Chipolopolo aim high
National Soccer team striker Martin Phiri says the team will prepare adequately for the 2018 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) senior championship which kicks off on May 27, in South Africa. Zambia will play Namibia in the Tuarterfinals of the tournament after being exempted from the group stage due to their better ranking in the region.
Speaking in an interview after the team’s second training session at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka, Phiri said the team will work hard to snatch the COSAFA title from defending champions Zimbabwe who humbled the Chipolopolo 3-1 in last year’s final.
Phiri noted that competition was high in camp because everyone was working hard to earn a place in the final team.
“We just have to work hard to come back with the trophy. The preparations have been ok, the game against Namibia will be tough.
“Namibia is a tough team. We have played them before at the CHAN tournament and they gave us a good run. We will not underrate them,” Phiri said.
Phiri said he would work hard to earn a place in the final sTuad that will compete at this year’s COSAFA championship which will feature local players.
“I just have to work hard, the competition is always tough but I just have to work hard to prove to the coaches that I can play. Expect goals from me as a
striker, my target will be to score four or five goals,´ 3hiri said.
The Chipolopolo boys began preparations for the 2018 Cosafa Senior Challenge with stand-in Coach Beston Chambeshi taking the lads through their paces at Sunset Stadium.
Chambeshi who has named a 30-member provisional squad has emphasised the need to build a team that would compete fairly at the tournament.
“Every coach wants to win the tournament but we have to make sure we make a strong team that is going there to compete.
“My target is to build a team that is disciplined and can deliver. We want to see players who can come and stay at national level because we have seen a lot of changes. We need players who are serious.” Chambeshi said.
Full provisional squad: (GOALKEEPERS)
Kenny Mumba (Red Arrows), Mangani Banda (Zanaco), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi) (DEFENDERS)
Billy Mutale (Power Dynamos), Martin Kaonga (Nakambala Leopards), Thandie Mwape (Kabwe Warriors), Ziyo
Tembo Zanaco,
Henry
Besa
(both National Assembly), Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco United), Boston Muchindu (Nkana), Paul Banda (Lusaka Dynamos) (MIDFIELDERS)
Jacob Ngulube (Nkana), Noel Nyirenda (Nkwazi), Kelvin Kapumbu (Lumwana Radiants), Clatous Chama, Collins Sikombe (both Lusaka Dynamos), Larry Bwalya, Kelvin Kampamba, Benson Sakala (all Power Dynamos), Jack Chirwa (Green Buffaloes), Ngosa Sunzu (Buildcon), Crispin Sakulanda (Red Arrows), Charles Zulu (Zanaco) (STRIKERS) Ronald Kampamba (Nkana), Peter Mwangeni (National Assembly), Martin Phiri (Zanaco), Youremember Banda, Diamond Chikwekwe (both Green Buffaloes), Emmanuel Chabula (Kitwe United)