NATIONAL team coach Dario Bonetti and under-23 trainer Lucky Msiska have reconciled after the two differed over the tactical approach to the games at the Confederation of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior Challenge held in Tanzania last year.
And Bonetti has agreed to release three foreign-based players that include Switzerland-based striker Fwayo Tembo to join the under-23 team preparing for next Friday’s London 2012 Olympic Games qualifier against Algeria.
The two coaches buried the hatchet during the technical meeting at Football House in Lusaka on Monday.
It was the first time the two were meeting since Msiska resigned as national team assistant coach after differing with Bonetti.
Msiska confirmed in Lusaka that all the perceived misunderstandings with the Italian were resolved in the meeting and they both agreed to work together once again for the good of the game.
He said Bonetti has agreed to work with him and that the former Zambia international forward is free to assist the senior national team any time.
In return, Bonetti will also assist in drilling the under-23 in the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers.
Early this year, both coaches had said that they did not want to work with each other after the differences.
Misunderstandings between the two started in Tanzania when they quarrelled in the presence of players after Zambia were ejected from the CECAFA Senior Challenge by Ethiopia via a 2-0 score line.
Bonetti preferred the defensive system of play which meant using Felix Sunzu Junior as a lone striker upfront but Msiska was against it and criticised the Italian in an interview he gave to a reporter after the tournament.
Msiska felt that Zambia needed to play an attacking game, especially that Ethiopia were considered a weaker team.The two tacticians almost exchanged blows during the CECAFA tournament performance review meeting in the board room at Football House and since then they have not been in talking terms until on Monday.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Who give a s.h.i.t? They can cohabitate, ukubuta and all that. Bottom line, the head coach should be a Zambian.
My Dear original and real Jewel of the Nile. Easy on the curse words, I know they have infuriated you with this news, but the bright side is a Zambian actually stood up to tyranny. Their reconciliation also shows maturity and finally reasoning. I do Agree Zambia needs a local coach; we should remember as zambians football is but just a game. Thanks princess for thinking wisely though.
Gud news. Now we cn take on the algerians properly
Way to go Bonetti and Mwana wakwitu!
In the first place, we dont need Bonetti. Groom local guys like Lucky and give them as much money as what you are wasting on these so called “foreign coaches with international experience”.
But NO. You wont do that cause you are full of making back door deals with foreigners and wont pay you fellow Zambians.
It is good that the two gentlemen have barried their differences for the betterment of the game. That is how Real men should behave.
Msiska is being groomed. Grooming doesnt mean you leave the post vacant. Someone has to be there and for now it is an expatriate. Its up to Msiska and other Zambians to learn from Bonnetti then implement what they learn.
@ Nubian Princess No # 2 : Greetings my sister.
My Dear original and real Jewel of the Nile. Easy on the curse words, I know they have infuriated you with this news, but the bright side is a Zambian actually stood up to tyranny. Their reconciliation also shows maturity and finally reasoning. I do Agree Zambia needs a local coach; we should remember as zambians football is but just a game. Thanks princess for thinking wisely though.
Soccer Fan No2, that’s not correct how many years have we been plying the trade of football to be groomed for eons, the time is now period for Zambians to control their destinys.
Mwanawakwitu think deeply and do your own research over this: We used a home coach He failed to qualify us to the finals-shocking because Gabon disaster or not we were still a powerhouse- 1994 silver medal and 1996 bronze proved that. (Check who gave us those medals-local coach? Awe!)An expatriate coach took over and that is when we managed to reach the second round. We just cannot risk another local coach when stakeholders (I.e. fans and govt) r demanding results. We risk sending in more local coaches on trial and error. The business sense is to get an expatriate coach who should TRAIN our local coaches to takeover.
My last sentence should read: We cannot risk sending in more local coaches on trial and error. The business sense is to get an expatriate coach who should TRAIN our local coaches to takeover.
Its good Bonetti has realized that he cant do the job right with his low calibre assistants. Chelsea lost their grip on the summit of the league after Ray Wilkins, Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant was fired which later went to cost Ancelotti his job. jose mourinho lost to Barca because of using similar tactics. Be careful we are watching you Bonetti. You got to perform
Thank you Phiri #9 and 10 for your good response to Mwanawakwitu”s querry to my posting. It speaks for itself
Now that the two guys who sit on the battle line of the ball game have reconciled, why can’t Kamanga and Simata reconcile with Kalu?? Come on guys, if the cats and the dogs have forgiven each other one wonders why grown up men should live with the kind of hate and grudges I see between them guys. Besides, Simata claims to be a born again believer….I shudder.:-?
that is good news. Lucky Msiska is a player I enjoyed watching in his heydays at Power Dynamos. We used to be so mesmerized by his trickery. On the coaching front is is doing alright and you never know one of these days he will coach the national team. At the moment I don’t think a Zambian Coach can manage the team..