Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:01:03 +0000
Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association (CSFA) has appealed to Coach Herve Renard not to make hasty changes to the losing AFCON squad as the Chipolopolo Boys seek qualification to the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals.
And Chipolopolo goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has said that there should be no divisions in the Chipolopolo camp following their first round exit at the 2013 AFCON.
CSFA chairman Yotham Mwanza said his association was aware that changes to the team were inevitable but appealed to the Frenchman to critically analyze all his players before making changes to the side that failed to defend the continental title in South Africa.
“After the painful early exit from the competition and the desire to urgently get down to business in the World Cup qualifying series, the Coach may consider dropping some players but we wish he will not rush in his desire to consolidate the squad” Mwanza said.
Mwanza said it was imperative that the Chipolopoplo side was consolidated before the team plays Lesotho in the next qualifying game in March but added that “the exercise must be done cautiously in order to maintain rhythm in the team.”
Zambia managed only two goals as they drew all three of their Group C matches to finish behind Burkina Faso and Nigeria and bow out of the tournament.
Despite taking over an hour to emerge from the change-rooms after their barren draw against Burkina Faso on Tuesday night, Mweene maintained that team the spirit remained intact.
“We can’t point fingers – it wasn’t meant to be. We just have to accept things and be thankful for what God has given us. It’s time to encourage each other, this is the time we need each other most, with the qualifiers.”
The heroic goalkeeper who saved a penalty against Ethiopia and saved before scoring one against Nigeria said that Chipolopolo gave everything they had to try and qualify to the quarter finals.
“We tried our best but even if we played two hours we would not have scored. We camped in Burkina’s half, especially in the second half.
“We will just have to go and regroup, we have the World Cup qualifiers and we’ll just have to come back. The most important thing when you fall is how you get up.” He said.
