Svens picked strong squad -Makembo

THE 26-member squad selected by national team coach Sven Vandenbroek is a strong team capable of beating Namibia when they meet in next month’s 2019 group ‘K’ AfCON qualifier, Zambia Sports Fans Patron Peter Makembo has said.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Makembo noted that the team consisting of 2012 Africa Nations Cup champions and 2017 under-20 Africa Cup winning stars was a formidable squad capable of snatching maximum points in Windhoek.

Makembo, however, urged the players summoned to embrace each other and to work together as they represented Zambia in the qualifiers for the prestigious 2019 Cameroon AfCON.

“The coach has named a good squad capable of beating Namibia. As fans we will always support the team. We don’t fear Namibia because they are a beatable side. We will do everything possible to render our support to the national team just like we have been doing all these years.

“My advice to the team is that, let them embrace each other and play as a team (no selfishness). The senior players should embrace the young players and the young players should respect each other and work together to. The team selected is a crowd puller because of the massive talent on display but they need to work together to win games,” Makembo said.

Makembo also said, however, that there was need for Vandenbroek to focus on drilling a team which would qualify for the 2019 Cameroon AfCON instead of focusing on people leaking information to the public.

Makembo said that there was need for the coach to forget about who leaked the team list and focus on training the team which will deliver results. The 26 players summoned by Vandenbroek are scheduled to report for camp this Thursday before their much anticipated AfCON qualifier against Namibia next month.

Vandenbroek recently complained about players and FAZ officials in the habit of leaking confidential information to the public before naming his 26-member chipolopolo squad which includes 2012 Africa Cup winners Rainford Kalaba, Stophila Sunzu, Nathan Sinkala, Kabaso Chongo and left back Emmanuel Mbola from Israeli outfit Happoel Ranana.

Zambia occupiers fourth position in group K of the 2019 AfCON qualifiers after their disappointing 0-1 home defeat to Mozambique.