By MICHAEL MIYOBA
NATIONAL soccer team coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic should stop experimenting every time Zambia is involved in an international fixture, says Zambia Sports Fans Association patron Peter Makembo.
Makembo said by now “Micho” should have assembled a reliable squad after being in charge of the squad for over a year as coach of the Chipolopolo.
Makembo said it is unfortunate that “Micho” has struggled to assemble a team with his two year contract as Chipolopolo coach almost coming to an end.
He said “Micho” has had a lot of chances to experiment and identify players who can compete at international level.
Makembo said it is worrying to see the Chipolopolo not making progress under the Serbian who was given a two-year contract by FAZ on January 21 with the aim to redeem Zambian football fortunes.
He also wondered why Fashion Sakala, Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu are not part of the team which travelled to West Africa for the three friendly matches against the Lions of Teranga, Benin and Sudan.
Makembo said parading a weaker Chipolopolo in the 3-1 bashing by Senegal who assembled their best squad to face Zambia and drawing with Benin showed lack of seriousness from the Zambian team which had its star players roaming around in Lusaka.
He said it is pointless for FAZ to arrange crucial friendlies against the best teams in Africa, without Zambia’s key players who are critical to achieving the dream of qualifying for the World Cup.
“We needed to take these friendly matches very seriously because we are preparing for the World Cup qualifiers where a lot of hard work and determination will be needed to achieve our target as a country.
“It’s been a year and six months since the coach was unveiled and by now we believe he should have identified the players who can help him but unfortunately, every time the coach is trying and testing which players he can work with and time is moving, we seem not to be making progress,” Makembo said.
The Chipolopolo, who are scheduled to face Sudan tomorrow, are in West Africa where they played two friendly matches against Senegal and Benin.
