Chipolopolo set base in Marrakech

…as soccer fans strongman Makembo tips the boys to aim for another win

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

THE Zambia National soccer team has set base in Marrakech, Morocco ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Group E FIFA World Cup qualifier against Niger.

The Chipolopolo boys who arrived in Marrakech in the early hours of yesterday will face Niger at the Grand Stade Marrakech in a match scheduled to kick off at 21:00 hours local time and 22:00 hours Central African Time.

After Last Friday’s impressive 4-2 win over Congo Brazzaville in Ndola, the Avram Grant tutored Chipolopolo boys will seek a consecutive win as they aim to break the jinx of failing to qualify for the World Cup.

Meanwhile Zambia Sports Fans Association patron Peter Makembo has urged the Chipolopolo boys to fight for nothing but a win to maintain top spot in Group E.

Makembo said just like Congo Brazzaville, Niger are a beatable side that should not give the Chipolopolo boys a tough time.

“We know the match against Niger is going to be tough because they will want to bounce back from their defeat to Mozambique but we believe in the boys. For now, we can only encourage them to stay focused after starting the qualifiers with a win,” Makembo said.

“We need to maintain the same winning mentality and as we face Niger on Tuesday, the boys should fight for nothing but a win. We need to end this round of qualifiers on top of Group E,” Makembo said.

The fans strongman reaffirmed the fans commitment to continue cheering the boys to inspire them to grind the needed results.

“We would have loved to travel with the team to Morocco but couldn’t due to luck of resources but that doesn’t mean that we have given up. We are still appealing to corporates to come on board because from Lusaka to Marrakech, it is just a seven hours flight but to the boys let them not get discouraged because if we wont make it we will still be cheering and praying that they come back safe with the best results,” he said.

Makembo also appealed to the Zambian community in Marrakech to troop to the Grand Stade Marrakech to give the boys the extra push needed to get a win away from home.