Tue, 21 Mar 2017 10:23:45 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA national soccer team coach Wedson Nyirenda has named a 20-member team to face Tanzania in two international friendly matches to be played in Dar es Salaam at the weekend.
The Chipolopolo squad which includes 2012 Africa Cup golden boot winner Emmanuel Mayuka who plays for Egyptian outfit Zamalek and Mamelodi Sundowns goalie Kennedy Mweene regrouped last evening to prepare for the Tanzania outing. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Nation Sports in Lusaka, National team head coach Wedson Nyirenda said the game against Tanzania is a crucial game as it will enable him asses the players ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique in June.
Nyirenda noted that the friendly game against Tanzania will also enable him to come up with a CHAN team.
“The game against Tanzania will be very good practice game and we need it for our CHAN team. Right now we don’t have a CHAN team as most of our players have moved abroad,” Nyirenda said.
The squad is made up of local players with Mweene and Mayuka being the only foreign based players. “Most of the players are locals, the only professionals that we have added to the list are Kennedy Mweene and Mayuka,” Nyirenda said. He said it had been a long time since Mayuka was with the team, adding that the player has been doing well for Zamalek.
“We want to see how he can play and fit in with our philosophy. With Mweene I need to see him because he has not been active at Sundowns. He played last weekend and did very well but what we need is to see if he is in good shape,” he said.
And Nyirenda has commended FAZ for clinching the friendlies with Tanzania. “The administration lead by FAZ president Andrew Kamanga is doing very well. They have been very proactive and that’s why we have been successful in recent tournaments,” Nyirenda said.
FULL TEAM
GOALKEEPERS: Jacob Banda (Zesco United) Racha Kola (Zanaco) Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos) Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns)
DEFENDERS: Taonga Bwembya (Zanaco), Donashano Malama (Nkana), Fackson Kapumbu (Zesco United), Mweene Mumbi (Green Buffaloes), Ziyo Tembo (Green Buffaloes), Isaac Shamujompa (Napsa (Stars), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Billy Mutale (Power Dynamos), George Chilufya (Zanaco)
MIDFIELDERS: Mischeck Chaila, John Ching’andu, Kondwani Mtonga (all Zesco United), Clatous Chama (Lusaka Dyanmos), Kelvin Mubanga , Fwayo Tembo (both Power Dynamos), Justin Banda (Napsa Stars), Mwila Phiri (Choma Eagles), Augustine Mulenga (Zanaco), Mukubanga Siambombe (Zamcoal Diggers)
STRIKERS: Jackson Mwanza (Zesco United), Justin Shonga (Nkhwazi), Chitiya Mususu (Napsa Stars), Ronald Kampamba (Nkana) and Emmanuel Mayuka (Zamalek)
