BENEDICT TEMBO
The Zambian mission in Cairo has visited the under-23 camp in Cairo and urged the boys to defend the nation’s football pride by beating Egypt on Wednesday evening.
Deputy Zambian High Commissioner to Egypt Greenwell Lyempe has urged the Under 23 team to uphold Zambia’s reputation as a football powerhouse of Africa when they take on Egypt in tej Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
According to the Football Association of Zambia, Lyempe paid a courtesy call on the team at its base at The Guard Hotel in Cairo and said that Egyptians have great respect for Zambian football.
He said there is no need to fear the Egyptians especially that their football has not been doing well at all levels of late.
“I will tell something about Egypt. Egypt respects Zambia so much when it comes to football. If there’s anything an Egyptian will remember Zambia for, its football. They may not even know Zambia but immediately theu here you are Zambian they will connect you to football. Therefore that respect Zambia has earned in football, you should uphold it,” says Lyempe.
He says he is confident that the team was in Egypt not to lose but pick a victory and finish the job off in Ndola.
Lyempe told the players that Zambians based in Cairo will turn up in numbers at the 30 June Stadium to cheer the team to victory.
Lyempe was flanked by Zambian counsellor for tourism in Egypt Jesse Simukoko.
And skipper Prince Mumba thanked the Zambian mission in Egypt for the reception and promised that the team will work hard to get a positive result to keep the Olympics dream alive.
