Chipolopolo regroup

ZAMBIA National Soccer team coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has summoned some players from the under-17 and 20 squads to join the senior team that has regrouped in Lusaka ahead of the 2021 Cosafa Cup that runs from July 6-18 in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), South Africa.

“Micho” has summoned Under-17 skipper Miguel Chaiwa and his teammate Joseph Sabobo Banda while Jimmy “Zobrigo” Mukeya from Napsa Stars joins the team from the Under-20 setup.

And according to the Football Association of Zambia, (FAZ), Cape Town City midfielder Justin Shonga and Gamphani Lungu of SuperSport United are among the foreign-based players who have joined camp.

“Micho” has also summoned goal keeper Bradley Mweene who plies his trade in Portugal.

“Some more foreign-based players are being awaited with the Polokwane City duo of Salulani Phiri and Cyril Chibwe expected to join.

“Others being awaited are goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns), Augustine Mulenga (Amazulu) and Roderick Kabwe of Black Leopards,” noted the post on the association’s official facebook page.

Defending champions Zambia is in Group B with Malawi, Comoros and Madagascar. Only the top team in each of the three groups and the best-placed runner-up will advance to the semi-fi

nals in what is a change in format for the tournament this year.

The Cosafa Cup is making a comeback after the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it will be hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay for the first time, which has been a familiar home for other Cosafa competitions in recent years.