By MICHAEL MIYOBA
FORMER Chipolopolo striker Collins Mbesuma has tipped the current crop of Chipolopolo players to die a little for Mother Zambia to retain glory days in football.
In an interview, Mbesuma who features for University of Pretoria in South Africa said Zambia is a footballing nation with talented players who can make history by qualifying for the World Cup despite having failed to make it to three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations.
Mbesuma said Group B where Zambia has been placed in the World Cup qualifiers where they will face Mauritania, Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea is not a tough group.
He said there is need for players to use the friendly matches to prove themselves before the World Cup qualifiers kick off in September.
Mbesuma said players should replicate the courage of the 2012 team which had the confidence to win matches before they were played.
“When we used to play we would jokingly tell the manager to give us the winning bonus because we were confident we would win when playing against teams like Botswana, Malawi we knew each other we would push each other but I’m sure we will get there with the current team,” said Mbesuma who played for Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs before he moved to Portsmouth in England.
“We can qualify for the World Cup. The group we are in is not a tough group. I think we can still do it. Players just have to die hard for the jersey. We have good players it is just lack of courage. We just need to push more, we don’t have to be scared.”
Meanwhile Mbesuma has urged players making moves to Europe to be disciplined and hard working to overcome the many challenges they may face.
Mbesuma congratulated Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala for working hard and moving to better leagues in Europe.
He noted that with more players like Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala, Zambia would qualify for both the World Cup and the AFCON.
Mbesuma also challenged local players especially strikers to replicate their performances in the league when summoned to represent the country at international level.
The 2012 AFCON winner is in Zambia to officially launch the King David Copperbelt Youth Football Tournament to be held in Luanshya to commemorate one year of the Collins Mbesuma Foundation.
