. CHAMANGA

By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA  and SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
CHINA-based Chipolopolo striker, James Chamanga is a major doubt for the March 5 international friendly match against the Uganda Cranes.
Chamanga said in an interview from his base that he had not started full training following a left knee injury he suffered towards the end of the 2013 season in October.
“I am getting well and just started my little training. I am not yet 100 per cent but I should start training with the team in the next two to three weeks. I may not play the first league game but I pray I will try to make it in time before the first game. Anyway I should be ready in no time,” Chamanga said.
Chamanga’s revelation brings to two doubts for next Wednesday’s friendly at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Another big doubt for the friendly alongside the Liaoning Whowin striker is Holland-based attacker, Jacob Mulenga of FC Utrecht, who has been out of action for the last three months.
But Chipolopolo coach Patrice Beaumelle has demanded that every player called for national duty should report for camp whether injured or not.
Beaumelle has summoned 42 players from which 26 are local-based players who are expected to regroup in Ndola today while the foreign legion is expected to start arriving on March 1.
The coach said he wanted to see all the players called to camp whether injured or not so that they could be assessed by the national team’s medical staff.
He said it was important that the injured players were seen by the Chipolopolo medical team  for assessment and then advised on the recovery regime.
“All players should report to camp and I mean everybody. Even those that are injured should come so that we asses them. This is also good so that we see how well they are recovering and give recommendations on their injuries,” he said.
He said it was important for the medical team to get first hand information on the players’ type of injuries so as to come up with a long term solution.
Beaumelle cited an incident where a player kept reporting to camp with a similar injury which he said was being propagated by featuring for his club when the recommendation was for him to take a long rest.
Meanwhile, team manager Lusekelo Kamwambi said that players were expected to report at Mukuba Hotel in Ndola today ahead of training which starts tomorrow at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
He said the 26 local players would not be released to their clubs until the final 23-man squad, which will be blended by foreign-based players, was picked.
“This will be a continuous process and players will only be released once the foreign based players start reporting to camp,” he said.