The Zambia national football team gathered in Lusaka today ahead of this Saturday’s friendly international match away to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam .
Patrick Phiri has named one new call-up to the team for Saturday’s friendly with the inclusion of Lusaka Dynamos defender Hichani Himoonde in place of Elijah Tana.
Tana is nursing a calf injury and he is expected to be out of action for the next seven days forcing Phiri to draft-in the giant Zambia Under 23 defender.
Missing for Saturday’s away friendly game are strikers Collins Mbesuma and Jacob Mulenga of Maritimo in Portugal and Chateauroux in France respectively.
Mbesuma has returned to Portugal to sort out his club future in Europe.
Mulenga has been excused for the friendly but will be available for next weekend 2008 Africa Cup Group 11 qualifier against Chad on June to be played a venue yet to be announced by Faz.
Striker Christopher Katongo of Brondby will be available for the Tanzania friendly before returning to his Danish club after the match.
Zambia departs for Dar es Salaam at 10:30 Friday.
Meanwhile, Faz has yet to decide whether they will continue playing at Konkola stadium following the death of 12 fans in a stampede on June 2 at the end of Zambia’s 3-0 win there over Congo-Brazzaville in another Group 11 qualifier.
TEAM:
GOALKEEPERS: George Kolala (Zanaco), Charles Chileshe (Nchanga Rangers), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa).
DEFENDERS: Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Billy Mwanza (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Kennedy Nkthani (Both Zanaco), Mark Sinyangwe (Nkana FC), Patrick Masosa (Green Buffaloes).
MIDFIELDERS: James Chamanga (SuperSport United, South Africa), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco United), Felix Katongo (Clube Desportivo 1º de Agosto, Angola ), Noel Mwandila (Green Buffaloes).
FORWARDS: Songwe Chalwe (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark), Ignatius Lwipa (Zanaco), Dube Phiri (Red Arrows), Enoch Sakala, Jonah Sakuwaha (Both Zesco United).
It will be a good friendly match for both teams considering the fact that both teams are on top of their game. But I should expect a win for the Chipolopolo as the Taifa stars have always struggled against us.
Include Isaac Chansa to strengthen the midfield.
I think Taifa stars have improved trememdiously. We should not under rate them. I hope Phiri boys will do well and produce another confidence builder in the team by beating the Taifa stars. If South Africa Leads the group and Zambia wins agianst Chad we have the chance of making it under “the best losers.” But this is not what we are fighting for, we need to win the top slot in group 11.
This is a good arrangement by whoever is organising it. However, it would have been nice for Coach Phiri to continue assessing our players like Mbesuma and Jacob Mulenga. These players need to know each other very well so as to build confidence in our strike force. If Enoch Sakala scores again in Tanzania, then the boy deserves to be in the starting line up against Chad. Otherwise, i wish our team the best of luck in Dar!!
Ba Lawre – Enoch Sakala in the starting lineup at the expense of who? Only the best players will play and we know who they are. Of course Enock is an upcoming player who will get his chance when his time comes. Look at our team closely and u will see that there is a long queue of strikers waiting for a chance, and they are many for that matter. So let Sakala develop and not rush him.
I totally agree, but whats the point of assessing a player who is not even going to play in an international game??? My reasoning is that once this boy scores, it will build his confidence not to be on the bench but to start up the match!!!