Chipolopolo Boys’ coach Herve Renard’s decision to maintain the same squad ahead of the forthcoming FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying games next month has elated soccer fans in the country.
And his counterpart Yotam Mwanza, the Chipolopolo boys Soccer Fans Association Chairperson, has noted that his organization supports Renard’s decision not to change the squad for the qualifying World Cup games.
Chipolopolo boys Brass Band Supporters Chairperson Chisenga Lwipa says the stance taken by the Frenchman was a step in the right direction.
Lwipa told ZANIS sports in a telephone interview in Lusaka today that this shows Renard still confident in the 2012 AFCON champions despite what he called their dismal performance in the on-going 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.
He was certain that the squad has greater chances of qualifying to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil for the first in the history Zambia.
Lwipa pointed out that it was possible for the Chipolopolo boys as former Africa Champions to qualify to the World Cup as they are leading group D with six points, three better than group rivals, Ghana.
“ Failure to defend the AFCON trophy is not the end of the world. It is an opportunity for the Chipolopolos to go and represent Zambia at the World Cup by ensuring that win all the remaining games during the qualifiers, ‘ he said.
Lwipa however called on all Soccer fan bodies to come to together, merge and be incorporated in the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) as key partners.
He added that this would be of great importance as it will assist to ensure that they offer all the necessary moral support all the way until the Chipolopolo boys qualify to the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo boys Soccer Fans Association Chairperson Yotam Mwanza noted that his organization agrees with Renard’s move not to change the squad for the qualifying World Cup games.
Mwanza stressed that the squad that the Frenchman prepared for the AFCON was good enough to make it to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
He added this was because the team was experienced and all what was needed is to put in place more strategic good mechanisms that would add value for them to qualify.
Mwanza stated that it was therefore imperative for all soccer fans to rally behind Renard’s decision and give total support to the squad as they are on a crucial journey to qualify to the World Cup in Brazil.
The Chipolopolo boys will face Lesotho in consecutive matches for the World Cup qualifiers before hosting Sudan and an away fixture to Ghana.
Zambia is currently leading Group D with six points, three better than second placed Ghana while Sudan and Lesotho have a point each.
ZANIS
Renard:
You have one last chance to redeem yourself, that’s the help the lads qualify for the FIFA World Cup to Brazil. I might just fly Air France over there next year the choice is yours. Otherwise, I am ready to boycott Air France if you fail to deliver this time around. God speed … remember the boys are African Champs, once a champ always a champ. Motivate them likewise … Merci beaucoup à l’avance!!!
B.R Mumba, where have you been. Happy New Year.
Awe mulayumfwa Ba Mumba… ati Air France.
good move indeed. a team is changed gradually. so far so good though change is needed if we are to go further than qualifying.
start looking for fresh legs and blend them well with the old. start a gradual infusion of the new in the squad such that by the time we leave for the 2016 world cup, which we will achieve this time around, it will be ease for you to do away with the underperforming old.
just cast your net wide as we have alot of talented players living in the diaspora and playing in better leagues. start with the charles musonda sons and you will not go wrong.
charlies sons hold belgium nationality,,,in zambia dual antionality is illegal,,,chapter closed..
2016 world cup?
Hw many soccer ave bn elated across the country by Relna’s pronouncements?What new magic is up his sleeve that hasnt bn there the whole year? There will b much tougher teams than the likes of Ethopia etc.
each game different. Ethiopia is not an issue
Chipolopolo right now is blunt. You need sharp shooters to succeed. Search for the talent promptly and incorporate them into the team; or else you will reach dead-end shortly (And that was my advice before Afcon 2013!). That lazy, sloppy play won’t pay. Best wishes, anyway.
The dilemma is with our strikers, they cant shoot and score outside from the 18 yard box, as evidenced during AFCON Preparation and at AFCON tournament our strikers could not score despite playing good football by our defense and midfield field. I think Renard together with FAZ should start identifying potential strikers with instinct killer skills in striking from our local league and fuse them in national team. Going by current performance at on going AFCON its clear to note that our strikers are lacking mental toughness on the ball, ability to great goals and lack to inspire us as fans, they need motivation from players like Johnston Bwalya, Kalu and others who could score from any angle or distance.
We need a Daniel Sturridge in our team , somebody who can score goals and has that movement that opens up opposition defences otherwise the team is good to notch that W/Cup spot!
I agree with you mystic. He can maintain the same defense and midfield but please find fresh strikers with fresh blood who has the passion for goals. We are currently lacking strikers. We need strikers like Wisdom Chansa, Kelvin Mutale and Kalu. Strikers who can create chances out of now where. If this coach is gonna continue with the same strikers, l am afraid Zambia is not gonna qualify for the world cup 2014. The coach is gonna be embarrassed. Look at Nigeria. They are not playing better than us. But only one striker called Emmanuel has made a difference. If we only had two good strikers. This tournament would have been a different story.
Mwe bantu Ninshi Daniel Sturrigde Mukali?Pls he cant even be better than our own Evans Kangwa.
What is the use of having 95% ball possession but failing to find the back of the net???That ‘s the crisis we’re having right now MR COACH!
These guys never learn anything…the same team everyone know in their sleep!!
Renard needs to get rid of some of the players and make room for new talent! Also we need attacking midfielders who actually ‘attack!’ Get rid of Isaac Chansa for he has outlived his usefulness if at all he was ever useful and give more playing to Mukuka Mulenga. We are appreciate the contributions Felix Katongo, William Njovu, Noah Chivuta, and my fav “hitman” of the last 10 years James Chamanga have made but lets be serious its time for these individuals to be phased out of the squad just like bafana have with fat Benny McCarthy!
Also phase out the ‘fading’ CK 11 a gallant soldier whose body unfortunately is giving up on him due to the natural order of life!
Zambia need a super striker. Thats the person the coach should focus on. Jacob Mulenga and Mbesuma are not good enough. Mayuka should prove himself. We a striker who can shoot from a distance, who can Head and has the strength to shield ball. The search should start among local player. then we will be safe up front. at the moment there is no striker we can relay on. its a pity. NO striker can even take a penalty is a shame.
We have Jonas Sakuwaha. His one of the best penalty takers in the country. If you have watched the team in training then you will know how good a penalty taker Jonas is. The coach must try players like Jonas in the central attacking position.
Even Katongo gonna be part of the team?? more losses again.
I noticed HR was failing to make tactical changes and his substitutions were poor to say the least. This is a major concern and FAZ must address it. At the moment there is a lot of dead wood in the team who need to be replaced with players that are more hungry for results. Ghana have 10 new players in this AFCON, despite the fact that they had a better team last time than us.
Lastly, the Lesotho and Sudan games are a must win if we are to go to Brazil.
Zambia and renard needs singuluma for goals.is the only striker in zambia who is not wastfull when it comes to scoring.
Singuluma when called upon, he did not pitch. So do you think such a player can play with the much needed drive.
there is no choice but to maintain the current squad. if he disbands this team, where is he going to get other players? the fact is that there is no large pool of players to select from as we had in the past decades. so there is no choice.
He must change the squard and bring in the players who are in form,he should not tell us that the AFCON failures should continue!!
Zambia has so much Talent only a fool can say that there is no one who can play soccer other than the 23 AFCON flops
Iwe don jay, you son of a bitch!! mind your comments to other bloggers. have ever watched the local league to see if there are any better players there? what kind of an ***** are you are?
don jay your are lunatic!. talking without facts
Observer you bare wrong maybe you are a relative of one of this redundant player:j chamanga,W Ndhlovu,F Katongo who are not adding any value to our team, look at felix with his Kung fu kicks useless. We have other players such as Fwayo T, R Kola on the local scene im sure we can get few new players we need goals. In the Lesotho game we need atleast 3 unanswered goals in each much and 2 answered goals against sudan then definately we will be okay. But without any changes with those strikers who failed to capitalise on 10 man ethopia i am afraid, brazil will slip through our hands to Ghana.
fiji, maybe you are the one who is a relative of the players you are calling for, such as fwayo tembo. what you are mentioning are just names: they are good players but that does not mean their current form is OK. if you really understand sport, you will realise that being a good player does not necessarily translate into being a good players. I agree with observer because I have a chance to watch our local league- I can see some skill, but not good results. however, in the night you meet the same players drunk in night clubs. let us leave team selection and coaching to the experts we have employed; can u imagine if you are a teacher and every parent who comes start telling you what do to or which syllabus/teaching method to use? or as a doctor, every relative to the patient telling you…
Fiji, in as much as transition is good, maybe we asking for it at a wrong time, we are in the midst of attempting qualification to another tournament. Being skilled and being in form are two different things; being in form is very delicate and only consistent for well disciplined players. Take an example of Felix katongo, he is very skilled, more than his elder brother, but it is his form that is poor due to indicipline. However, I wish to conclude by saying that even if you replace those players, you will get the same mediocrity we saw at afcon-I can bet my house on this one. How many times have we disbanded the national team and only ending up reconvening the same quality again?
It won’t help the team to have a bench full of players the coach does not use, these are Noah Chivuta, Felix Katongo, William Njovu, Noah and James Chamanga. Please refresh your bench with clifford Mulenga, Given Siguluma (TP mazembe), etc.
I agree with the decision, the team is ok, the only problem as noted at AFCON 2013 was the inability to score.
Chipolopolo were arguably the stronger side than there 3 opponents, they had more meaningful possession of the ball but alas they failed to convert.
You can be sure that Zambia’s opponents watched videos of Chipolpolo at least a hundred times, but inspite of that Chipolopolo still demonstrated control and command on the pitch.
I am in agreement that wholesale overhaul is not the way to go, we need to work on scoring and under the circumstances a lot of motivation is required for our players.
All of you football ‘experts” are just useless. Leave the job to the coach.
The umbrella statement that Renhard’s decision has been hailed by socecr fans and you quote a few loodlums as representing all soccer fans is wrong. It is also wrong to try and bury our heads in sand and hope that we can qualify to the World Cup with this crop of players.
No one is calling for a complete overhaul of the team, but certainly, when you fail to go past the group stage of the tournament, play over 360 minutes and score only one goal in open play with a penalty converted by a goal keeper is a source of concern.
Defence and midfield is ok, Renhard needed to fuse in two or three young and agile strikers with a knack for goals and remove some dead wood from the team. Some of his players have been to both AFCONB 2012 and AFCON 2013 without playing full 45 minutes, what do…
Chamanga, Christopher Katongo, Felix Katongo and two or so more could start being phased out slowly. Include Singuluma, give more time to Jacob and Sakuwaha and also get two or three more young boys.
Ghana and Nigeria who are noe the favourites to win this tournament are relying on young boys in the team.
If we insist on the same tired legs, who are not scoring, we are likely to draw one or both games with Lesotho as well as draw the game with Sudan and lose in Ghana and Ghana will go away smiling. Remember we are at 6 points with Ghana at 3 points, only one game is separating us, we need to win at all costs and you only win by scoring goals!!!!
Plse Renard and Kalusha Bwabwa drop the following players from the squad;
#1.Christopher Katongo
#2.James Chamang
#3.Noah Chivuta
#4.William Njovu
If i have forgotten any,plse Mushota add some names.
MAINTAIN WHAT? Herve Renard should reconsider his thoughts and plans. Zambia needs to redesign the national team. Short, small and heavy looking players should be replaced with players of certain specific physical attributes make the team to prepare for Brazil 2014. Players should generally be of the statures and heights of Sunzu and Himoonde. If he doesn’t have such plans then we should not be surprised when Zambia fails to reach Brazil. The nation should for a change, focus the debate of football in Zambia on the physical structure of the national team. Does the overall individual physical structure of Zambia’s national team players (height of players, body build of players, body weight of players, running speed of players, etc)really look like what it takes to go to Brazil? Herve…
I agree with you here. But if a player does not have physical stature, he could replace that with physical fitness. If you look at Chris Katongo, he is not as fit as he was a few years ago, which is very bad. Zambians are not naturally big, as a result fitness must be given priority. A player like Chisamba Lungu was very fit in this tournament, although bigger players like Obi gave him problems.
Maradona was a small player but extremely fit and well built. The fitness level of the current team is not impressive and could be improved upon
MAINTAIN WHAT? The nation should for a change, focus the debate of football in Zambia on the physical structure of the national team. Does the overall individual physical structure of Zambia’s national team players (height of players, body build of players, body weight of players, running speed of players, etc)really look like what it takes to go to Brazil? Herve Renard should seriously reconsider the team composition to take into account the physical nature of the players. Otherwise, the disappointments will continue flowing in Zambia’s future international assignments. Zambia’s current formula of player composition and selection does not work and needs changing. There are tall, strong, fast people in this country that can be assembled together to form a winning national team. Who…
WE HAVE THE DEFENSE BUT FIND SOME TEETH TO BITE WITH UPFRONT
MAINTAIN WHAT? Herve Renard should seriously reconsider the team composition to take into account the physical nature of the players. Otherwise, the disappointments will continue flowing in Zambia’s future international assignments. Zambia’s current formula of player composition and selection does not work and needs changing. There are tall, strong, fast people in this country that can be assembled together to form a winning national team. Who supports this approach?
The journey to Brazil is longer than we think. Even we win this group there is another home and away fixture ahead.. Just fire Renard coz he doesn’t want to include new players. maintain 85% of the team and fuze in other young players pliz. This is Zambia with so much talent and I don’t thnk we cannot include more talent to our current squad. This is shows that our coach is so limited in his coaching abilities, technically HR is poor. Stubborn coach as well…
Soccer is now a closed chapter in Zambia, forget and move foreward. Charcoal Bullets are History. Lets discuss issues like flooding at Kulima Tower, RB summoned by Taxi Falls, No drugs in hospitals, TB Joshua prophecy about 10 subsequent tournament losses for Zed, Largest Plane , Boeing Tripple 7 lands at KKIP. Lets be progressive guys, sha.
YOU ARE STILL CHAMPIONS ZAMBIA
Great Kalu!!
Just how possible were you soo accurate in scoring those free kicks. You were & still a smart scorer. You will never stop to amaze me. Congrats being the first Faz President to bring the Africa cup to Zambia.Same goes to Captain Chris Katongo on being the first Zambian Captain in meeting the target of leading your troops in bringing the cup to mother Zambia
So is this what you called “We will GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD” by maintain the same squard? Where is FAZ in all this? If you fail qualify to Brazil,All tax payers should be refunded. It hates to see you lose.Do your home work right this time.
be rest assured that by no means will you come back at Kenneth Kaunda int’l airport when you lose.Because you will be taken to fee paying police cells this time around.
Foolish coach, or is it physical trainer. Go back to France bon voyage bon voyage chika…
# 13 armchair critics cost us the trophy. Chris has a fighting spirit which you took away because of your unfounded criticsm. What happened when you benched him?
OMG what,we need a new coach who can help Zambia quality for WC 2014,there’s half of the guys we need cut off from the current team.
this coach is mad. the current team is finished and needs change