Patrick Phiri has called-up seven foreign based players and named two new caps for Zambia’s international friendly match away to Togo in Lome on August 22.
Strikers Jacob Mulenga of French Ligue 2 club Chateauroux and Christopher Katongo of Danish top-flight club Brondby have both been called up to lead Zambia’s attack against Togo next week.
The other five players are all South African based and they include first-choice goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene of 2nd division club Free State Stars.
Others are defenders Billy Mwanza and Joseph Musonda, both of top-flight team Lamotville Golden Arrows.
Striker Songwe Chalwe of Moroka Swallows and the club-less junior international winger Clifford Mulenga who recently rejoined division 2 side Pretoria University FC are all in the team.
Phiri meanwhile has given first caps to Young Arrows and Zambia Under-20 left-back Joseph Zimba and Power Dynamos’ teenage left-winger Kennedy Mudenda.
Lusaka Dynamos and Zambia Under-17 midfielder Tom Bakala has been given a second chance to finally pick up his first senior cap.
Tom Bakala, young brother of veteran midfielder Ian Bakala, gets a chance to impress after missing out on the Botswana friendly played away in Orapa July 21.
Dropped from the squad for this encounter are the Zanaco duo of goalkeeper George Kolala and defender Kennedy Nkethani.
Zambia goes into camp in Lusaka tomorrow and departs for Lome via South Africa on Sunday.
The two European-based players will join the team in Lome while the five South African based players will join-up with the team in Johannesburg en route to Togo.
Zambia is using the match as part of its preparations for the teams September 8 final match in their 2008 Africa Cup, Group 11 qualifier against South Africa to be played in Cape Town.
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes), Makasa Mufwaya (Roan United).
Defenders: Dennis Banda, Patrick Masosa (Buffaloes), William Chinyama (Zesco United), Joseph Zimba (Young Arrows), Lameck Njobvu (Zanaco), Patrick Masosa (Buffaloes), Gilbert Kalusa (Lusaka Dynamos),Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows, South Africa).
Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba (Zesco United), Kruger Mwansa (Red Arrows), Tom Bakala (Lusaka Dynamos), Allan Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University, South Africa).
Strikers: Songwe Chalwe (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark) Enoch Sakala (Zesco United), Ben Mwanza (Roan United), Elson Mkandawire (Power Dynamos), Jacob Mulenga (Chateauroux, France).
What’s wrong with Zambian coaches? You like experimenting all the time instead of concerntrating on building the strong time. each time you have an opportunity of playing a friendly game with a strong side, you change the squad. Give the opportunity to the team that has been competing so that they keep on gaining compossure. This really sacks! Good luck in your failures anyway.
Phiri, is this the team thats gonna play against Bafana Bafana. What goes on in your head? No wonder Faz wants to dispose you off.
I think Zambia’s midfield is weak we need to do something
I remember last time Zambia played Togo, it got a 4-1 hiding. Phiri should explain to the Tax paying soccer fans as to why he has left out chamanga, Nkethani, Kolala, etc. We deserve to be informed, since we pay him and his players.Any way this is just a strength testing match.
Lets forget about Zambia qualifying for CAN 2008. Phiri has done it again, made history of failling to qualify the team for CN for the second time. Meanwhile
Bafana Bafana is preparing to go and play Scotland on 22nd August, in Scotland. Their acclaimed coach has chosen home based players. At least in comparison, we are better off playing a fellow african country.South Africa’s preparations can be equated to a Musician practising on a piano, yet he or she is gonna play violin on the day of performnce. South Africa is beatable, only if Zambi hd preapred adequtely for the Match. You must know how much they fear Mbesuma nd Katongo, plus the unknown Jacob Mulenga.
never change a winning team
#2 Please dont blame Phiri, he was told by FAZ executive to concentrate on his departure to Germany and Tosi was supposed to be in charge. Pipo ba FAZ fisushi who dont even think about the future. Thanks to minister of sports Gabby who came in the last minute to allowed Phiri continues with his task. Truly Phiri was/is in fixed… nichofye mwaume. Imagine he was told to go to Germany a month before a crucial game and letting someone from mars to be in charge of the team. Yhat’s nonosense ba FAZ.
Phiri whats wrong with man? Is this your way of saying that you are not happy with the new coach coming in? Please die a little for Zambia and come out with a better selection. Zambia has a lot of good and talented players that are not given a chance to prove themselves i.g. Issac Chansa, Chaswe Nsofwa, Ian Bakala Lloyd Mumba just to mention a few. These and others have made us proud and I know most of are still playing a bigger at their clubs abroad.
Zambia has a lot of midifielders. What surprises me is that Pratrick Phiri has failed to call any of them.The draw against Chad was entirely his and Faz’s fault. They failed to call Andrew sinkala(Germany), Mishek Lungu(Hungary), Dominic Yobe(sweden),Isaac Chansa(sweden). These are all defensive midfielder who are experienced. The lack of an anchorman in midfield makes us weak. For the SA game we need at least two defensive midfielders because we cant lose. Come on coach even I can do a better job.Dominic Yobe was the captain of the U-20 before he left for sweden now he is totally he ignored. we are not using our resources. We fail because we limit ourselves to the same group that has always failed.
No wonder FAZ wants to get rid of Phiri, he is not resourceful as King Kalu was. We are lacking a coach of Kalu’s calibre who had set himself high standards and looked far and beyond for players, though he might have ruffled a few feathers. Phiri out!!
Katongo is back in the Brøndby first team. Came on as a sub in the 68th min. on saturday in a game BIF lost (0-1) at home to promotion side AGF.
Isaac Chansa is doing well at his club and so is Sichone in Gremany. #8 Dominic Yobe is rubbish
# 11, YOU RECALL MY WORDS, WHEN I SAID LETS GIVE THE CLUB A CHANCE, THEY WOULD FEATRURE KATONGO IN SUBSEQUENT GAME. YOU SAID “WHAT CHANCE, DOUGLAS MWAMBA GOT FINIHED AT THE SAME CLUB”. I HAD THAT PREMONITION THAT KATONGO WAS NOT BEING FEATURED FOR A REASON. SOME COACHES DO THINGS FOR A REASON.
ALL IN ALL IT GOOD THAT HE IS BACK IN THE FIRT TEAM, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE. BUT WHY IS PHIRI NOT RECALLING ISAAC CHANSA?, HE HAS INTSTEAD CALLED SINKAL, WHO IN MY OPINION IS FINISHED.
It’s good to hear Chris is back in the team.According to the Times of Zambia report C.Mbesuma came on in the 65th minute substitute in his team 0-1 loss to Turkish giants Galatasaray. Gentlemen we need these guys playing for their clubs and fit, cos it will be war against S.A in Sept.It really wont be easy but we can pull it off.I’m sure guys like Billy & Chip know how these guys here talk when the win.They rate themselves very high.But i can tell you the Bafana team is not as strong as it used to be, the only advantage the have is they will be playing at home.
The other advantage for us is their Key man upfront Zuma is suspended for the Zed game.The also know & fear Collins and Chris here.But Jacob is unknown here.This game will coincide with Cafs 50 yrs Celebration all the big guys in African football will be there in Cape town. We need tried players and a midfield that can much S.Africas’s.Sa strong point is their Midfield.This is where the game will be won and lost.
#12 Yes I do, but I still maintain that Chris should be playing cause he is far much better that most of the gabbage at Brøndby anyway. I watch them week-in and week-out. He has to play that is all
Gentlemen, Zedians, hear this, I know all of you as being critial and perssimists as regards our national soccer team’s performance. Hear this, Zambia is going to qualify for CAN 2008 after beating South Africa 3-2 in CapeTown and we shall go on to lose in the finals to Cameroun.
I have this strong feeling within me, am always optimistic.Am not even worried that SA could beat Zambia, I can not imagine that. Mark my words.
# 15 is from me.
Let us all support the national soccer team rather than vilifying and demotivating them. I concurr with sibs that Bafana Bafana fear Mbesuma and Katongo, hence the nick name Tsunami for chris. Zambia has had good players at all levels save for poor nurturing. Zambia is qualifying. I can not imagine CAN 2008 without Zambia.
I agree with Sibs. Zambia has always had an upper hand over Bafana Bafana particularly when the game is played here in SA. All we need to do is strength the midfield. Like Sibs pointed out, Bafana Bafana’s strength is the midfield and also the defence. They have hard men at the back like Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, UK), Nasief Morris (Olympiakos, Greece), Cyril Nzama (Kaiser Chiefs, SA) etc. However they are beatable and they are not a threat. All we need is the confidence on the day of the match. We cant afford to lose. South Africa are so proud of themselves especially when they beat Zambia, they never stop talking about it. Lets humble them come September. All we need to do as Zambia soccer fans is to support our natinal team. For those of us here in SA, we need to travel to C.Town and cheer the team. Players are also motivated by support from soccer fans in the stadium. Best wishes to Zambia.
Bafikala
Ba shi mabolo
Mwa ba ama kandi
Ma tole yenu
bane
Pat Phiri aba ama tole ya mbushi
Wiso itole chikala cha noko
Bonse mwe ba zambia mwaba ama puli
Tupuli twe nu
ZEDI = AIDS
Mwa nya mule fwa
#19-29 Are you normal, you need a serious mental check up at Chainama. You are a Chainama case. Congrats to Under 23 for beating Mali 2-1 in Bamako. Keep it up!