ZAMBIA, ETHIOPIA LOCK HORNS
ZAMBIAnational soccer team’s quest to prepare adequately for next month’s AFCON qualifiers and the Cameroon CHAN tournament continues today when the Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic’s drilled local charges take on Ethiopia in an international friendly match at Addis Ababa Stadium.
Todays’ fixture presents another test for the local Chipolopolo squad consisting of young players from various Super Division clubs who played a critical role as Zambia beat South Africa 2-1 in their last international friendly match on October 13 in South Africa.
Zambia and Ethiopia have met 17 times with the Chipolopolo winning nine games with six draws while two games have ended in defeat.
The Chipolopolo have however struggled to beat Ethiopia since 2010 when they recorded a 2-1 defeat at the CECAFA tournament before recording 1-1 and 0-0 draws in 2013 and 2017 respectively.
“Micho” has named a 23- man squad of local players to play Ethiopia and South Sudan in international friendly matches.
The Serbian said his aim is to give the players the needed exposure ahead of the AFCON qualifies slated for next month and the CHAN tournament to be held next January in Cameroon.
"In order to keep the momentum of our player's with international football standards, we have organised friendly matches in Ethiopia where we have been assured of a friendly with Ethiopia but we are having some challenges with South Sudan who are having financial constraints.
" This second phase of preparations is very good for us. The third phase will see us giving the players to their respective clubs so that they can play three or four league games so that they can each have 10-plus games to be in competitive form as we wait for the Botswana game," Micho said in an interview before the Chipolopolo's departure for Ethiopia yesterday.
The team which entered camp on Tuesday consists of most of the local players who were part of just-ended FIFA international window which saw the Chipolopolo play three matches against Malawi, Kenya and South Africa.
After playing Ethiopia this afternoon the Chipolopolo’s second match will be against South Sudan on Saturday before facing Ethiopia again on Sunday.
The local assemblage will wrap up the Addis Ababa engagement with another match against South Sudan on Monday, October, 26 before returning home.
FULL SQUAD: (GOALKEPEERS)
Lameck Siame (Kabwe Warriors), Jackson Kakunta (Power Dynamos), Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi)
(DEFENDERS)
Kondwani Chiboni, Zachariah Chilongoshi (both Power Dynamos), Luka Banda, Luka Ng’uni (both Napsa Stars), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Kebson Kamanga (Zanaco
(MIDFIELDERS)
Benson Sakala (Power Dynamos), Albert Kangwanda, Kelvin Kapumbu (both Zanaco), Amity Shamende (Green Eagles), Leonard Mulenga (Green Buffaloes), Bruce Musakanya, Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba (both Zesco United), Collins Sikombe (Napsa Stars), Chaniza Zulu (Lumwana Radiants), Paul Katema (Red Arrows), Thomas Zulu (Nkwazi)
(STRIKERS)
Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes), Emmanuel Chabula (Nkwazi).