Herve Renard backs misfiring Christopher Katongo and declares his captain as the fittest player in his team.
The Zambia captain has come under fire from the Zambian public after being at the centre of wasted chances and failing to complement Collins Mbesuma in attack in the teams’ poor performance in the 1-1 against Ethiopia in their opening Group C game on January 21 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
“Christopher Katongo is one of the fittest players in the team,” Renard said.
“He is never injured. If he is not efficient it means the team was not always competitive.”
Katongo, who is expected to lead Zambia’s attack against Nigeria on Friday, was substituted in the 84th minute against Ethiopia and replaced by midfielder Mukuka Mulenga.
“He is a leader and his behavior is fantastic he will show the world and I have no doubt about it,” Renard added.
Katongo has shown good leadership as our national teams captain. Leading by example
I agree the Team needs leadership, and Katongo, Musonda and Mweene are the only ones that can lead and inspire the Lads. Go Zambia Go, Balangeni kuteya Bola
Lets sesemia Nigeria tomorrow lads #Via 2-1 to Zambia
who cares if hes the fittest player in the world. we missed a lot of chances cauz he was holding on to the ball for to long. Mbesuma and the like were making the good runs in the box, but the ball never came. Share the ball or get bench Ba captain.
Renard, wishing you and the lads the best of luck tomorrow. I watched the last game on Monday with a lot of dismay. We totally under performed … our boys are made out of better material than they displayed. I like the fighting spirit tough and while Nigeria out performed Burkina Faso, they play the same kind of game we do so technically we are evenly matched for tomorrow’s encounter.
We will beat Nigeria tomorrow and I look forward to a 4-2-2-4-1 formation to deliver goals early while we defend our trophy all the way to the finals. Tell the boys we need an early 2 goal lead tomorrow.
Once more, good luck and God speed. Ba Zambia iye, Ba Zambia Chipolopolo, iye Fipolopolo.
imwe ba mumba sr,
ni formation yakwisa iyo? 4-2-2-4-1… = 13 players on the pitch.
awe mayo, vyakulola vye. (as the namwangas wolud cry out.)
Maybe the ref and the two linemen inclusive
Iyi formation ba Mumba Naine yampita what kind of formation is this?
Mwandi boss, I too saw the angels who stand on each side of our precious goalie 🙂 For those on this end Eurosport recommended as those who experienced ITV last time had unnecessary blood pressure distractions from the …….. commentators and at least you get all the matches. Best of luck Zed!
He he he he … ala bane you cranked me up!!! Solini, meant to write 4-2-4-1 ama 2 yabili katwishi eko ya cifuma. Thanks for letting me know … you are all the best.
LOL bamudala aba bamfuna imbafu again ba panga formation yabufi or mayb mwene ali pa top. ati 4-2-4-1
ati I meant 4-2-4-1, niyanbwanji iyo formation….yaba
Na imwe Ba coach can you please read the game. What was the motivation behind benching Musonda and bring another striker; our defense is leaking all night. mid field is to casual, they are already one man down. You rearrange the midfield or defense. If you want to close the game take out a misfiring striker for another.
mama mama eeh!!
renard please don’t follow mr. mimba’s formation as that will be cheating (we will field 13 players as oppossed to 11.) and we will just be disqualified for cheating… LOL!!
He he he he … ala bane you cranked me up!!! Solini, meant to write 4-2-4-1 ama 2 yabili katwishi eko ya cifuma. Thanks for letting me know … you are all the best.
@Mature you’ve made me laugh
Ba Mumba ha ha ha!!
He he he he … ala bane you cranked me up!!! Solini, meant to write 4-2-4-1 ama 2 yabili katwishi eko ya cifuma. Thanks for letting me know … you are all the best.
Iwe Mumba na 4-2-4-1 takwaba. Never include the goalkeeper.
What HR is doing is transferring pressure off the team on to himself basic psychology ….by backing his captain he is putting pressure on him to perform and bring his A game tomorrow. No Manager drops his captain at a tournament especially a senior like Katongo.
I agree with HR on this one. Katongo was unlucky not to score. I feel Jacob has not earned a starting position yet. Most of his goals are at his club. The others: Mayuka, Chamanga, King David, Sakuwaha have all earned their positions scoring for Zambia
The game tomorrow will not be easy, anyway we wish the chipolopolo boys well.Renard good tactic, you have few tools,support your capt he may pull a surprise 2moro
katongo likula
Mukuka vs Katongo, I Pick young Mukuka anytime. Katongo Vs Mayuka, I pick Mayuka. So Renard where will you play Katongo? The Nigeria game is crucial, no favouritism. Katongo should come in the 88th Minute when we are 3-1 leading.
Neshishine imyaka batemwa ukubepa abalumendo aba.Am sure Katongo is 40
Then he is one of fittness 40 year old in football no injuries no aching in his body after the game!lol
Imwe bantu, a soldier, always a soldier, Katongo is one, whether he is 40 or less than that, he is a fighter and come this evening, you will see wonders. Iyeeeeeee chipolopolo.
They should play 4-4-2, with Mbesuma and Mulenga as the two strikers. Even 4-5-1 would be good considering Nigeria’s powerful midfielder in Mikel Obi!
Not forgetting Victor Moses as well!!
Ba Mumba Kwena Mwatwipaya, iyi ni revised soccer projected for 2040
Ba Kalebalika:
Ala bwafya, natotela mukwai … cawama twasekako bane.
He wil turn 40 on 27 jan,2013
Am turning 30 and I knew ba Katongo from Mufulira, Felix wa 1979.
Baane, Chris has past his best before date. i think he has achieved much for himself and the country. if i where him i would leave at the epitome of my career. gamblers no when to leave the table. Bakatongo leave the field when de iron is still hot. Dont become a villain from a victor. In Ethiopian game we were 9 man becoz Kalaba ws not playing. chris ws failing to do even stepovers.
Ba Mumba, 4-2-4-1 ni formation ya kwi?????????????
It will be so frustrating to get jettisonned in the first round, coz honestly speaking, the team that we have assembled this time around is far much better than what we had the last time we won. HR needs to learn how to correctly combine the lads. HH and Nkausu need to be replaced if need be. They were the weakest links in the previous match.
Thats the correct observation ba Chipo, I share it.Musonda is very stable than Mbola and Nkausu. In addition, Chris must be on the bench and Mayuka must start.Katongo is the unmitigated disaster in the waiting.Sakuwaha and Mukuka must be on the touchline warming up to replace Kalaba and Chansa respectively.
Just because he is Bemba?
I think Rena should start with Mayuka.He makes defenders panic.Please Rena start with Mayuka and Mukuka Mulenga.Well,i hope Katongo and kalaba perfoms otherwise drop kalaba if he can’t do anything.Cheers.We don’t need names to perfom.
I never heard of a 4-2-4-1 ? Ba Mumba tondolo musuma!Maybe you meant 1-4-2-4 which is a 4-2-4 used by the KK XI in the 70’s and 80’s with Willie Phiri and Jani Simulambo as the two midfielders.It cant work now!Pls let Renard pick his formation,game plan and team.Our job is to support the team.Good luck Chipolopolo.GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
BA CAF-U:
Awe kanshi twalalekelefye Renard acuzine formation alefyaya umwine … why can’t it work now, we need all the fire power in front and defense yacibumba!!! God Speed to the lads and may God be with our boys.
Natotela.
I Knew chris from his playing days for Butondo High school and Butondo western Tigers back in Mufulira, but the chap never played for Mighty Mufulira Wanderers he was not good enough am supprised that these are the players that zambian are putting faith in please.the age or let me not go there.
Thats poor Zambian mentality when he performs we all stand up and kill ourselves and ask the nation to give us a holiday, when he receives awards we are all part of it. Yes in football not all days are the best days even for the likes of Messy, Ronaldo or which ever player. So we should know when to criticise and what to say. You start talking about he never played for Mufulira there are lot of players who never played at Mighty even Messy, Obi Mikel and a million others. Lets not be dull – lets appreciate these boys have died a little more than many Zambians would. Even if they were to lose today I would continue supporting them because thats what great footballing nations do. . They don’t start backlashing and calling names and showing their utter ignorance. Go Boys Fight and Conquer…
We need to realise that soccer is not just about skills and tactics. Soccer is about team work, good organisation on the pitch and above all maintaining focus throughout the game. We won the last AFCON mainly because of those attributes. If we play an organised, focused high tempo match against Nigeria we will carry the day. Teams that win tournaments are not always those with the best players, but those who exhibit team play, compactness, accurate and aggressive in front of goal.
To be honest, if we play the way we did against Ethiopia, we will be on the earliest plane back home. If that happens, please don’t fire the coach, he will take us to the world cup for the first time. I wish the team, the technical bench and all the loving Chipolopolo fans around the world the best! GOD…
4×4 kwati ni motoka. ukokwine. All that we need is a goal in the net PERIOD.
Ba Renard, I have faith in you but I would like you, from these Afcon games, to start selectind your starting 11 for 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Secondly, I miss your shouting on the touch line.
All the best!!!
His leadership qualities won’t win us games.What matters is his current form.He is a leader whose performance on the field of play is below par.Let’s start with someone who is better and give the responsibility of leading the team to one Mweene.
The die is cast and all is set and after all those words that had been said am sure Zambia will rise to the occassion come 17hrs we will gun down the eagle mark my words.Iye chipolopolo iye chipolopolo …..
I think the best formation is 2 2 2 2 2,Umuntu pamuntu limbi kuti twawina tefyo ba Mumba.
The boys need to do thier best as we support and pray for them. They did it last time through hard work, unity, support and above all prayers to God. Let us humble ourselves as a nation and do our best be supporting and encouraging our team. God bless my beloved nation Zambia.