‘DON’T NEGLECT US’

…Zambia will go through, says Chipolopolo captain Lubambo Musonda

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

ZAMBIA national soccer team captain Lubambo Musonda has called on fans not to neglect the Chipolopolo after their disappointing performance in the 1-1 stalemate in their first game at the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in Ivory Coast.

Musonda said the Chipolopolo boys were unfortunate as they tried hard to get a win against Congo DR but their opponents were also prepared for a win.

“The game against Congo DR was tough. It wasn’t an easy game. We went in the game and tried to play our tactics but Congo was also prepared for the game and it was tough but a good result for the team.

I wouldn’t say we are satisfied because we needed more from the game we wanted all the three points but football being what it is, we couldn’t get the three points and so a point is okay,” Musonda said. 

Zambia will face Tanzania in their second Group B match tomorrow at the Stade de Sanpedro and Musonda is confident the Chipolopolo have what it takes to beat the Taifa Stars.

“Tanzania is a good team and every game here is not an easy game but we will prepare adequately. We will try to rectify the mistakes we made in the first game and work harder to get the three points,” Musonda said.

“I believe in the team. The team is in good shape. It’s just that against Congo DR, we didn’t play the way we were supposed to play but I still believe in the strength of the team and definitely we will go through,” Musonda said. 

“Football is played on the pitch and sometimes you don’t get the results no matter how hard you work. I would encourage fans not to neglect us. They should keep on supporting us and we will definitely work harder and give them the results that they want,” he added.

Meanwhile, former Chipolopolo goal keeper Kalililo Kakonje urged the team to work on the mistakes made in the first game to be able to overcome Tanzania who are coming from a 3-0 loss to Morocco. 

Kakonje, winner of the 2012 AFCON with the Chipolopolo said Group F is still open after round one of matches. 

“We have two teams with one point each, one goal each and we have one with three points and three goals and one team having zero points so for me, the group is still very open and we still need to dig deep and work hard if we have to go through,” said the former Chipolopolo star who now lead Red Arrows as an assistant coach.

After playing Tanzania, the Chipolopolo boys will conclude their Group F fixtures with a date against Morocco on January 24. Only the top two in each group will progress to the knockout stage of the continental championship.