Renard unveils squad for Angola

Herve Renard has assembled a developmental squad which included six players from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning team for
next Wednesday’s training match against Angola in Luanda.

Renard’s squad which is devoid of the super stars who lit the African football stage, has only 2012 AFCON revelation, Chisamba Lungu,midfielder Felix Katongo, defender Nyambe Mulenga, striker Evans Kangwa and goalkeepers Kalililo Kakonje and Joshua Titima to lead the charge next week.

He has also called up some new faces to squad who include Power Dynamos defender, Govenda Simwala, Zesco United midfielder, Potipher
Zulu, andNational Assembly midfileder Lubambo Musonda.

Renard has recalled Power Dynamos midfielder, Thomas Nyirenda, who missed the 2012 AFCON with an injury, Zesco United defender, Charles
Siyingwa and Green Buffaloes’ skipper Dennis Banda and Power Dynamos midfielders, Joseph Sitali and Kennedy Mudenda.

The squad was expected to regroup in Lusaka to begin preparations for the practice match.

Football Association of Zambia spokesperson Erick Mwanza said the game against Angola was important for training because it would give the
coach significant time to work with the players he had been watching in the league every week.

Mwanza said in a statementthat the training outing to Angola was significant as it fitted in the training programme and objective of preparing the Chipolopolo adequately for next month’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Sudan and Ghana.

“This training camp and outing to Angola is one which fits into the overall training programme and objective of preparing the Chipolopolo
adequately for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier matches against Sudan and Ghana next month.

The base or foundation and bedrock of the Chipolopolo lies with the local talents and it’s therefore important that after seeing these players in the league every week, the coach works with them and is able to assess them through national team training regimes and see who he can include in the Chipolopolo.

You will note from the selection that coach Herve has made that this is by no means the Chipolopolo but an assemblage of players who constitute a development team,” Mwanza said.

After the training match in Luanda, Renard is expected to name his Chipolopolo squad which will set up base in Johannesburg, South Africa
to begin preparations for the World Cup qualifiers against Sudan and Ghana.

Zambia will face Sudan in Khartoum on June 2 before hosting Ghana seven days later at the new Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

The full Angola-bound squad has goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (Napsa Stars), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos), Jacob Banda (Zesco United).
Defenders: Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Govenda Simwala (Power Dynamos), Steven Kabamba (Green Buffaloes), Charles Siyingwa (Zesco
United), Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United), Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes).

Midfielders: Thomas Nyirenda (Power Dynamos), Joseph Sitali (Power Dynamos), Potipher Zulu (Zesco United), Lubambo Musonda (National Assembly), Rodrick Kabwe (Kabwe Warriors), Felix Katongo (Petro De Luanda, Angola), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Chisamba Lungu (FC Ural, Russia).

Strikers: Evans Kangwa (Nkana), Reynold Kampamba (Nkana), Felix Nyaende (Power Dynamos), Chakwa Lungu (Zesco United), Bruce Musakanya
(Red Arrows).