ENOUGH OF BENCH WARMING

THE Zambia Football Fans Association (ZAFFA) has challenged national team players who are bench warmers at their respective clubs to take advantage of the transfer window to move to clubs where they will be able to enjoy game time.

ZAFFA general secretary Katwizi Chawezi said it is unfortunate that dependable national team players such as Justin Shonga, Augustin Mulenga and Austine Muwowo have continued to struggle at Orlando Pirates.

Chawezi said there is need for the players to push for loan moves if the club is not willing to sale them to other teams where they will be able to play before the AFCON qualifiers set for November resume.

“In November we are starting qualifiers for the 2022 AFCON so players need to be fit. I know players haven’t been very fit because of the Covid-19 pandemic which disturbed all the leagues. But now that the leagues have started and players continue to stay on the bench, it will not be helpful to them and it will not help us as a country because we need to win all our remaining games to qualify.

“They should go to clubs where they are able to enjoy game time so that they can be picked to represent the country when the qualifiers resume. Players need to have game time to develop.”

He urged managers representing players to look at the interest of a player instead of focusing on how much they would earn from certain deals which are career-threatening.

Meanwhile, Zambian striker Evans Kangwa on Tuesday evening opened his goal account for the season and rescued Arsenal Tula from suffering a home loss following hard-fought 1-1 draw with FK Khimki.

In South Africa, Zambian forward Gamphani Lungu snatched a late winner to guide Super Sport United to third on the ABSA Premier League table following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mwape Musonda’s Black Leopards.