‘I’M NOT HAPPY’
…Grant hopes Chipolopolo players would play regularly at club level
CHIPOLOPOLO Coach Avram Grant says he is not happy that some national team players are not playing regularly at their respective clubs in Europe.
Grant said Europe is the best school for players who need to play regularly to be able to learn and contribute positively to the national team.
The Chipolopolo coach’s greatest wish is to have more pFlaAyeZrs phlaayiniglsregularly for THE SMART MONEY IS ON good clubs in Europe where Govt there are better sports facilities. FULL TR“IUwCanKt my players RANGE to play OF By MICHAEL MIYOBA
TRIANGLE TYRES in big clubs regularly but TYRES it THE Football Association of
Zambia (FAZ) has hailed Government for allowing the association happened even against Ivory to admit a limited numberPoAfSsoScEceNrGfaEnRs fCorAthRe, c4rXu4ci,aBl US, TRUCK AND OTR Enjoy major brand tire performance and Impressive savings with Double Coin Coast most of the players 2022 Qatar Fifa World Cup qualifier
AAUUTTOMOTTIVIVE EQUEIQPMUEIPNTMLEIMNITTEDLTD against Tunisia slated for Levy
Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. didn’t play in big clubs but
Along Great North Road Opp. Cavendish University
ALONG GREAT NORTH ROAD OPP. CAVENDISH UNIVERSITY Zambia will be away to&MMalasuhariRtoaandOiapp.
Ravasia Filling Station
& MALASHA ROAD OPP. RAVASIA FILLING STATION
EXLUSIVE DEALERS IN ZAMBIA on Friday for thEeXirCLoUpeSnIVinEg DGErAouLpERBS IN ZAMBIA
I think it is part of development match at the Olympic Stadium, before hosting Tunisia four days later.
Dove Queens aimed
STORY ON PAGE 27 in Zambia and I think
for top-4 slot more players will play in Europe,” Grant said.
crusade to finish in the By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
top four in the 2020/2021 “I’m not happy to be honest FOOTALL Association Zambian women's premier of Zambia (FAZ) women's league season as the league for each player who is not
resumes," reads the statement premier league Solwezi-based in part. team Dove
Early this year, FAZ temporarily playing in Europe because Queens is aiming at finishing suspended the the season the top league due to escalating four. numbers of Covid-19 cases. Europe is the best school for According to a statement Meanwhile, the club posted on its official has clarified that its first players and I want them to Facebook page, the Zambia home game will be against Police sponsored side Red Arrows women team says its aim is to play in the commonly known as “Air Confederation of African Women” on September 22. This follows the memo on amendments of game schedule by FAZ. play but at the end of the day I think they are learning and I hope they will play. I hope that they will play at good clubs but it is also a process, sometimes when you are not in good shape you will need to go to another club to perform well,” he said.
“I hope it will happen because having players in Europe it is an advantage for us. I hope we will have more players in Europe and as I said before right now we have about eight young players playing in Europe and I watch them, I’ve watched some live… good talent and they have a very good future. There is no doubt that Europe is the best school, they have the best facilities,” Grant said.
Meanwhile, Grant who will lead the Chipolopolo at this month’s four nations tournament which will feature hosts Malawi, Kenya and Zimbabwe said he would have loved to play Brazil or Argentina to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June against Tanzania and Morocco.
“I don’t have a choice. I would have preferred to play Brazil or Argentina. I always try to play against the best but teams in Africa are improving a lot. We see what is happening to Tanzania, Kenya, and others,” Grant said.
The Chipolopolo gaffer is confident that the four nations tournament will be a good test for the Chipolopolo boys as they prepare for the World Cup Qualifiers.
On Zambia producing the most expensive female footballers in Rachael Kundananji and Barbra Banda, Grant said; “Hope one day we will have players from the men’s side who will be the most expensive in the world after Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo but Barbra and Rachel are very good players.
I saw them train they are very good professionals and I think it is good for us to have players playing in the
top 11.”
Grant is hopeful that that more female footballers will go on to play for the best teams in the world and qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.