I'LL BE BACK – KALABA

Fri, 25 Aug 2017 10:06:42 +0000

… and says in life you can’t progress if you don’t have enemies

By Michael Miyoba

TP Mazembe captain and Zambia’s midfielder Rainford Kalaba says he will soon return to the Chipolopolo squad despite having been dropped from the team that is scheduled to take on Algeria in the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier on September 2 at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

National team coach Wedson Nyirenda dropped Kalaba as Zambia was preparing for the Algerian game.

Kalaba accumulated two yellow cards in Zambia’s last two fixture games against Cameroon and Nigeria respectively and was expected to miss the first leg clash against Algeria.

He is however eligible for the return leg three days later in Constantine.

Nyirenda however dropped the former Chipolopolo captain despite knowing very well that Kalaba would be eligible to play the return leg fixture.

In a massage posted on his official Facebook page, Kalaba said there was need for his fans to remain calm noting that he would soon return to playing for the national soccer team.

“I just want to tell all my fans who support me whenever I’m down or up, that they should be calm and relax. You will see me soon playing for my beloved country Zambia. In life, you can’t progress if you don’t have enemies. God bless you all.RK17,” the massage reads.

Meanwhile speaking when he unveiled a 32 member squad led by Goal keeper Kennedy Mweene to take on Algeria, Nyirenda said Kalaba was still a member of the national team and would come back to the fold at a later stage.

Nyirenda said goal keeper Mweene would take over the captain’s arm band from Kalaba.

“Kalaba is not just part of the team at the moment. I just also learnt that he has got some Yellow card issues but like we have always said, he is still part of the team and will come back at a later stage,” Nyirenda said.

Other players who were left out include striker Collins Mbesuma, the TP Mazembe trio of Given Singuluma, Nathan Sinkala and defender Kabaso Chongo.