By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

CHIPOLOPOLO defender Chisamba Lungu has said pressure is mounting on the senior team players to work hard following the impressive performance of the local players that won the 2013 COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

And Chisamba has challenged the Chipolopolo to approach 2014 with a winning mentality and that the players should set their eyes on qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco.

 Chisamba, who plies his trade for the Russian First Division side FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast, said in an interview that 2013 saw the offshoot of young and talented players break through into the senior team.

The 2012 AFCON winning right back said the positive trend had created stiff competition for places in the senior national team.

 He said the fact that some players from the developmental squad had graduated into the senior team, was a clear signal for the senior players in the Chipolopolo to work hard to maintain their places.

 Chisamba observed that Zambia was capable of assembling a formidable team using locally based players that could compete favourably against any team.

 “We have to fight for places in the team and that calls for hard work for anyone who wants to play for the country. We have to be serious this year and work extra hard,” said Chisamba as he vowed to put up his best to maintain his position.

 Chisamba threw a challenge to the foreign based players on the need to work hard to secure their places in the team saying young players had set the pace high and that the senior players must follow suit.

 He said Chipolopolo must approach the New Year with a winning mentality and set their eyes on qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

 Chisamba said the senior squad had a disappointing 2013 which saw the team surrendering the AFCON title and failing to qualify for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup finals but that there was need to maintain the high levels of  discipline and aim higher this year.

 “Local players have improved tremendously and they have posed a serious challenge to the senior players and this is very good for the country. The competition they have created is so inspiring and as senior players we have to bear in mind that with this talent, it’s not automatic that we will always be selected,” Chisamba said.

 And Chisamba has set his 2014 club target to help FC Ural survive relegation from the top flight football.

 FC Ural is currently hovering in the relegation waters, a notch above Anzhi Makchachkala after collecting 12 points from 19 games played this season with Lokomotiv Moscow leading the log on 40 points.

 Meanwhile, Chisamba donated some hampers to New Year babies at Kanyama Clinic in Lusaka with the Chipolopolo star saying the gesture was aimed at ploughing back to the community.