U-20 to meet Bafana Bafana

THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ has secured two international friendly matches for the Zambia Under-20 national team against Malawi and South Africa.

FAZ communications manager Desmond Katongo confirmed the development in a statement issued to Daily Nation Sports noting that the two friendlies would help the Numba Mumamba led Junior Chipolopolo prepare adequately for the 2019 Niger Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi.

“The Zambia Under-20 national team is scheduled to play Malawi and South Africa on 1st and 7th July respectively. “FAZ is working tirelessly to ensure that the junior Chipolopolo boys gets the best preparations before the team faces Burundi,” Katongo said. Zambia is set to face Burundi in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier first leg encounter to be played on July 14 2018.

Junior Chipolopolo assistant trainer Charles Bwale has included four foreign based players in his provisional 28 member squad to face Burundi.

According to the provisional list released to Daily Nation Sports by team manager Mwansa Kapyanga, the squad comprise of Sweden based Edward Chilufya of Djurgardens FC, Lifumpa Mwandwe of Shrewsbury Town, Kings Kangwa of Hapoel Be’ersheva and the highly rated Mwiya Malumo of Wigan Athletic. The team is tomorrow scheduled to enter residential camp in Lusaka before meeting Malawi and South Africa in the two international friendly matches ahead of the Burundi tie set for July 14 in Lusaka and July 21 in Ngozi.

Meanwhile Katongo has denied allegations published in some sections of the media indicating that FAZ technical director Moses Sichone has been appointed as a member of the national team technical bench.

Katongo noted that no changes had been implemented at National team level and Sichone would remain FAZ Acting Technical Director.

“We wish to categorically state that the association has no intentions of moving FAZ Acting Technical Director, Moses Sichone to the senior national team technical bench.

“Sichone was appointed as FAZ Assistant Technical Director and currently acting as Technical Director for administrative purposes,” Katongo said.