‘INJURIES WON’T DERAIL US’ All Africa-bound boxers geared for action
…as She-polopolo dig in for COSAFA semis
Club president Moses Mubanga confirmed the appointment in an interview, noting that Chembo replaces Zivojnov whose contract was not renewed after it expired in May.
Mubanga said Zivojnov’s contract which expired on May 30 was not renewed because the two parties failed to agree on terms for the new contract.
“It’s true Chembo has been appointed as acting head coach replacing the former head coach whose contract was not renewed centrally to what other media organisations are reporting that the coach resigned,” Mubanga said.
Mubanga said that failure to renew the coach’s contract will not affect the club in any way as they prepare for the new season.
He said Chemba has been with the team for a long time to lead the club foward.
Zivojnov helped Buildcon to a top two finish in stream B of the transitional MTN/FAZ Super League to qualify for the CAF inter-club championships.
Buildcon will meet Young Buffaloes of Botswana in the CAF Confederations Cup preliminary round.
She-polopolo girls
INJURIES will not derail us from fighting to top the group to qualify for the COSAFA Senior women’s championship, says coach Beauty Mwamba.
Speaking in an interview, Mwamba said the She-polopolo are ready to face Botswana in the last group fixture at the Wolfson Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.
Mwamba said the injury of defender Agness Mususa will not affect the team which has a number of players who are capable of filling the void.
“The team is ready we just had our last training section and I can confirm that we are ready to face Botswana in the last game.
“I know we will miss the services of the defender who was injured during our last game but I don’t think it will have an effect on the team because her replacement was able to play and finish the game,” Mwamba said.
Mwamba said Botswana is not going to be an easy team to beat because they are physical and playing good football.
She said the She-polopolo who started the tournament with a 15-0 bashing of Mauritius before beating Namibia 3-2 in the second game will fight for victory to finish as group winners.
“We have six points the same as Botswana but I think we have an advantage because we scored more goals than them.
“We just need a draw but we will seek maximum points to top the group because our target is to top the group, it is an important game for us,” Mwamba said.
“Botswana are a good side very physical but we are ready. We know it is not going to be easy but we hope to carry the day.”
Meanwhile, defender Agnes Mususa will not be able to play any of the remaining games, team doctor Faith Chibeza has said.
Chibeza said that Mususa had a bad fall during the game against Namibia and dislocated her elbow and has been ruled out of the tournament. THE Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) has declared the boxing team ready for the All Africa games set to kick off on August 19 in Rabat, Morocco.
In an interview, ZBF general secretary, Bright Chomba said the boxers have been preparing adequately for the games which will feature some of the best upcoming and professional boxers.
Chomba said Zambia’s aim is to collect medals at the All Africa games because they are going there as competitors and not mere participants. “The boxers are already for the All Africa games. They have been consistently training because they have been in camp for quite a while now and we can safely say that they are ready for the games,” Chomba said. “We are going there as competitors so our main objective is to win medals and that is our message to our boxers to focus on winning medals because we are going there not as participants but as competitors.”
Meanwhile, Chomba has hailed the competition levels exhibited by boxers who took part in the provincial boxing championship held during the 2019 Agriculture and Commercial show at the showgrounds in Lusaka.
Chomba said competition was very stiff among the boxers who have shown determination to progress in their boxing careers.
He disclosed that ZBF has identified other good boxers from Central and Southern provinces who would be summoned for future national team assignments. “We have met the objectives of the tournament which was to exposem firstly the raw boxers and to help the current national team which is camped at Olympic Youth Development Centre to prepare for the All-Africa Games and the Olympic qualifiers. The All Africa games will run from August 19 to 31 in Rabat and Cassablanca, Moroco with 54 countries set to compete in the regional championships.
“The team is ready we just had our last training section and I can confirm that we are ready to face Botswana in the last game.’’