Dario Bonetti has said he is just worried the three-week-long boycott has left his players short on match fitness ahead of their Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup outing in Tanzania this weekend.
Teams have not played any league games since the weekend of November 10 when the league clubs voted to boycott matches in a push to force Faz president Kalusha Bwalya to call for an emergency council meeting.
“The only problem is the fitness because they have gone one month has gone without playing official games,” Bonetti said after Monday morning training session at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.
Bonetti however, said the fitness levels were not very bad and the players will be ready for their opening Cecafa cup Group A opening game against hosts Tanzania on November 27 in Dar-es-Salaam.
“It is not bad but it could be better,” Bonetti said.
Meanwhile, defender Davies Nkausu of SuperSport United in South Africa was expected to join the team on Monday evening from his base in Pretoria.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Raja Kola (Zanaco), Kalililo Kakonje (Unattached), Davey Kaumbwa (Green Buffaloes)
Defenders:Billy Mwanza, Nyambe Mulenga (Both Zesco United), Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes), Stephen Kabamba (Kabwe Warriors)
Midfielders:Joseph Sitali, Simon Bwalya (Both Power Dynamos), Thomas Nyirenda (Zanaco)
Strikers: Felix Sunzu Jnr (Konkola Blades), Luka Lungu (Power Dynamos), Adubelo Phiri (Red Arrows), Winston Kalengo, Vanecious Mapande (Both Zanaco), Jackson Mwanza (Zesco United)
Dario if you dont think that their fitness level is not bad then why even raise a questions of fitness, unless you are covering your butt that in case the team dont perfom well at the Cecafa tournament then you will say ” Nalimyeba”. But you have to realise that you and your 3 relative assistant coaches are paid a lot of money not only to escort the teams to tournament and competitions but also to make sure that they are ready mentally, physically and strategically. Unless you are saying that you rely intererily on clubs to provide and equip them with such. If thats the case then we will let abena Ndalya_Panono, Big Pipe, Distant Drums, Zambia Wesu, Kashimani, Mwiponta Mukabwela, VJ Rigger,Abena Dongosima,Irrational man,Kitwe Boys,Nshilandalanda and abena Mpangula Mputyu also escort…
nkalanda walasa: unfwa the line up is worrying. pliz guys save us from the shame of last year
Zambia when invited those guys in east africa expect a challenge and just help them spice the game but actually we do the opposite (am arguing from the past two editions). well zedians watch out for mrisho ngasa of TZ as for Tanzanians I can assure them they have no one to look out for in our team.
our team is not scary at all lol, FAZ failed to atleast one person that can make our team a bit threatening coz as far as i see it, its nothing but a bunch of players picked from our local clubs even thou thats the point of the league. they should have called one big striker or mid so the other oppenent can concetrate on that person but insteady its going to be us watching out for strong players from other countries!
Nkalanda walasa mune