Msiska upbeat ahead of Zim clash

ZAMBIA under-23 national team coach Lucky Msiska is optimistic of beating Zimbabwe in January 8’s Maputo 2011 All-Africa Games qualifier.

Msiska said in an interview after the morning training session at Independence Stadium in Lusaka on January 2 that his technical bench is optimistic of a positive result when the two regional rivals meet in the first leg of the All-Africa Games qualifier.

He said Zambia will not underrate Zimbabwe and that the game will be tough looking at the rivalry that exists between the teams.

“Morale in camp is very high, players are enthusiastic and we are confident of beating Zimbabwe,” he said.

Msiska is, however, still having a headache choosing the final 18-man squad, saying all the players have the ability to deliver and will tread cautiously when naming his final team.

“We decided to give it three more days before we make the final team because all the players are good. We want to pick the best players,” he said.

Msiska said chances of having foreign-based players in his squad are very slim and that he will depend on the local players that are readily available for the match.

The under-23 technical benches had initially named the Israel-based duo of Justin Zulu and Roger Kola and were also hoping to have Switzerland-based striker Emmanuel Mayuka and defender Emmanuel Mbola of TP Mazembe.

[pullquote]“Morale in camp is very high, players are enthusiastic and we are confident of beating Zimbabwe,” he said.[/pullquote]
“We don’t have any response from the clubs up to now, so chances of having these players available are very minimal. We will make do with the available locals.

Actually, they are equally good. Competition in the team is very high. That’s even why we are having headaches making a final team,” he said.

Msiska, who lauded his technical bench, said he is optimistic Zambia will qualify for the All- Africa Games in Mozambique this year.

Zambia finished fourth in the last two editions of the quadrennial games held in Abuja and Algiers respectively.

“We have to ensure we qualify and we can strategise on the finals after we qualify. To us, every game is important. We will take all the games seriously and we will not underestimate any opponent,” he said.

The team is also scheduled to play Rwanda in the London 2012 Olympics qualifiers in March.

Meanwhile, five new players have been drafted into the Zimbabwean national Under-23 squad ahead of the match against Zambia.

Dynamos defender Augustine Mbara, Kiglon midfielder Devon Chafa, Monomotapa’s Russell Madamombe, Charles Mutero of Shooting Stars and Lengthens’ Stephen Matsangaise have been roped in to replace the foreign contingent who had been targeted by the coaches.

According to the Herald, the Young Warriors, who were expected to begin camp at the ZIFA Village, rejected the facility and opted to come from their homes and use their own resources for transport.

The players cited the poor conditions at the Mt Hampden complex where water and electricity is a big problem.

Young Warriors coach Friday Phiri and his assistant Darlington Dodo had named the foreign contingent of Kaizer Chiefs star forward Knowledge Musona, the Ajax Cape Town duo of Tafadzwa Rusike and Khama Billiart, Pretoria University’s Mathew Rusike, TP Mazembe forward Darryl Nyandoro and France-based Ovidy Karuru but have not reported for camp as they are yet to be released.

Only Mathew Rusike from Jomo Cosmos has turned up for camp but his availability is still subject to confirmation by his new club.

It is not clear whether Zimbabwe Football Association would be comfortable with having the players come from their homes especially in view of the fact that some of them are from outside Harare.

Team manager Wellington Mpandare could not be drawn into discussing the issue but only spoke of the players who had reported for training.

And the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says the Chipolopolo’s loss to Kuwait is a wake-up call to the technical bench ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique in March.

And national soccer team assistant coach Lucky Msiska says strategising for the 2012 Gabon/Equatorial Guinea African Nations Cup qualifier against Mozambique should begin now.
Zambia were on Friday annihilated 4-0 by Kuwait in an international friendly at Dreamland Sports Complex in Cairo.

Meanwhile, the national team returned from Egypt yesterday without coach Dario Bonetti and his assistants who have gone back to Italy.

FAZ treasurer Kelvin Mutafu was speaking in an interview at Lusaka International Airport.

Mutafu, who was delegation leader, said the team did not perform to expectations and this will serve as a wake-up call to the technical bench to work on the flaws.
“The outing was fantastic although we suffered a heavy defeat and the loss could be attributed to lack of fitness and fatigue. We will however continue to give the team quality friendly matches.

“We all know that the game against Mozambique is a must-win for us…anything short of that will put our qualification in jeopardy,” he said.

The Chipolopolo will face Mozambique in a Group C qualifier on March 26 in Maputo.

He said the team that travelled to Egypt was the best that FAZ could assemble since the friendly was played on a non- FIFA day.

“We did what was expected of us, that is getting the available players who are on recess. It was going to be difficult to get our best players since the game was on non-FIFA day.

Mutafu refused to comment on the absence of coach Bonetti and his three aassistants.

“As for the coach (Bonetti) and his assistants, they are not with us,” Mutafu said.

Bonetti, who went back to Italy after the game, only joined the team on Wednesday evening ahead of Friday’s game.

Zambia is courting Poland, Belgium and Ivory Coast for an international friendly next month to prepare for the qualifier against the ‘Mambas’ of Mozambique.

Msiska said in an interview in Lusaka on January 2 that the Chipolopolo have little time to prepare for the crucial qualifier, hence the need to begin strategising.

“We don’t have enough time. Strategising for Mozambique should start now,” he said.

On the 0-4 loss to Kuwait, Msiska said lessons are picked from such losses and that the Chipolopolo should not lose focus.

He, however, said the loss was too much, as Zambia had not suffered such a humiliating defeat in a long time.

“The loss was just too much. It is the first time in a long time we have lost like that but it’s through such losses that you learn. We now have to think of how we can improve especially that we have a qualifier coming up soon,” he said.

Msiska said it is important to ensure the team is well organised for the Mozambique outing.

On the selection of players for the Kuwait friendly, Msiska said most of the foreign-based players could not make it to Egypt because of club commitments.

The friendly match against Kuwait was played on a non-FIFA date and clubs have the right to hold on to their players if the match does not fall within the FIFA calendar.

Msiska, who drilled the team before departure for Egypt, said most of the foreign-based players were not available for the match and had to be replaced by the locals.

Among the foreign-based players that were available for the match are the South Africa-based trio of Kampamba Chintu, Joseph Musonda and Isaac Chansa who are regulars in the Chipolopolo.

Others are Rainford Kalaba and Emmanuel Mbola both of TP Mazembe.

Head coach Dario Bonetti joined the team in Egypt a day before the match.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]