By NDINAWE SIMPELWE in Marrakech Morocco – ZAMBIA may be basking in the adulation of being termed tournament favourites but coachWedson Nyirenda now believes that tag is affecting the team negatively at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
Nyirenda said in an interview yesterday that the favourites label was putting the players under pressure to perform as seen in the game against Namibia.
Zambia qualified to the quarter-finals of the CHAN as group winners after beating Uganda and Ivory Coast before drawing with neighbours Namibia.
Nyirenda said after the first game against Uganda, everyone at the tournament realised how strong Zambia is which and the talk put more pressure on the team.
“In football it is always too much pressure when everyone thinks that you are the best because you have so many people to look out for. After playing the first game, everyone has been talking about Zambia and that has put a lot of pressure on the team,” Nyirenda said.
He said however that the team can handle the pressure because of the experience that most of the players have acquired with their clubs.
“But I think we have players who can manage that pressure. We are also psyching them to take and assimilate it and play the way they are supposed to play. The players have shown a lot of character and that they want to win despite all the difficulties,” he said.
Nyirenda said he expects the players to be at their best against Sudan in the quarter-final after a disappointing display against Namibia in the last group game.
AND FAZ assistant Technical Director Moses Sichone has remained impressed with the team showing so far despite the poor preparations going into to the tournament.
In an interview, Sichone said he was proud that the squad finished top of Group B against all odds.
“Looking at how we have played so far, it is just that before the beginning of the tournament we didn’t have enough time to prepare. But reaching this stage, we should be proud of the boys for what they have done,” Sichone said.
Sichone said he is happy that Chipolopolo will avoid the hosts in the quarter-final as it is never easy to face a team playing in front of a home crowd.
He assured fans to expect a better performance from the team in the quarter-final after a drab game against Namibia.
He said fatigue had slowly crept into the team after three consecutive games.
He however expressed concern that players from the bench were not making a big impact once given a chance to play.
“From the other boys who came in, they couldn’t change what the other players who have been playing. But is always difficult for a player who has not been playing to come in and make a big difference, it is up to the player and how he has prepared himself for the match,” Sichone said.
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