U-20 foreign trio still expected to arrive

Sat, 14 Jan 2017 11:18:01 +0000

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

 THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says the three foreign-based players called by Junior Chipolopolo team coach Beston Chambeshi to join the national team in readiness for the Under-20 Africa Cup Championships, have not yet arrived. 

In an interview with the Daily nation Sports in Lusaka, FAZ deputy general secretary Lombe Mbalashi said the trio of Kenneth Kalunga of Ikast FC in Denmark, Patson Daka and Ngosa Sunzu of Israel’s Hapoe Raanana have not reported for camp yet.

“The foreign based players are yet to join the squad. We were expecting all of them to be in camp on Tuesday but have not reported as they are still engaged by their clubs,” Mbalashi said. He stated that all the players who are currently in camp have shown great commitment and were all injury-free. “All the players are training and they are all fit. No one is reported to be injured at the moment as they are all enjoying good health,’’ he said.

Sunzu, Kalunga and Daka are expected to join the team as it prepares for next month’s championship Zambia will host.

Chambeshi’s boys are currently camped in Lusaka but will be leaving for Spain where they are expected to set up camp.

“The boys are expected to set up camp in Spain and we will leave when all the logistics are in place. The date has not been set but immediately the logistics are put in place, we will get back to you guys,” Mbalashi said. Zambia will host this year’s junior Africa Cup of Nations and has been placed in Group A of the 2017 junior championship alongside Egypt, Guinea and Mali.

The top four at the Junior AfCON will qualify for the 2017 Under-20 World Cup to be held in South Korea.