‘Extra push needed’ – Kamanga urges fans to fill up Levy Stadium to inspire the Chipolopolo boys

FOOTBALL Association of Zambia President Andrew Kamanga has called on Zambians to fill up Levy Mwanawasa Stadium which has been identified as the venue for next month’s crucial Group H Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast.

Zambia will host Ivory Coast in a must win fixture slated for June 17 before wrapping up the AFCON qualifiers with a date against Comoros Islands three months later.

Kamanga said the players and technical staff will be banking on the extra push to ensure that they make the nation proud.

“If half of the effort put in other ventures can be invested in giving our Chipolopolo an extra push in their quest for AFCON qualification, we have no doubt the team will wrap up qualification at home,” Kamanga said.

“It is such a monumental fixture that we urge all the stakeholders to come on board and play their part to make this assignment hugely successful,” Kamanga said.

He said FAZ has been liaising with the technical bench on an intense program for the team as players wind up their seasons.

“There is a good chance coach Avram Grant will have the players for a longer period than for the previous assignment against Lesotho. We urge the fans to fill up Levy Mwanawasa Stadium even better than they did against Lesotho. As always, we will do our part administratively to ensure the team is well prepared,” Kamanga said.

Meanwhile, Kamanga said FAZ is looking forward to attend the Cosafa Annual General Meeting (AGM).

“We can’t wait to be part of the many developmental programs that Cosafa has for its membership. Cosafa remains a model for the rest of the continent in terms of its organizational credentials. It is one of the regions whose developmental programs see its tournaments attract the participation of guest teams from other regions,” He said.

On the ABSA Cup which was postponed to next weekend Kamanga said; “We are also excited at the prospects of the 2023 ABSA Cup which promises to be bigger than any held before. Regrettably, we had to tinker with the original date for reasons that were beyond our control.”

Mazabuka based Super League outfit MUZA FC and Ndola based Forest Rangers will clash in the final which promises sparks.