By FELIX MALUNGA –
TUNISIAN side, Club Athletique Bizertin has apologised to Nkana for the accommodation mess the Zambian envoys were subjected to after arriving in the North African nation for tomorrow’s crucial CAF Confederation Cup tie.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) treasurer, Kelvin Mutafu said Bizertin’s vice-president tendered the apology to Nkana on behalf of the club.
Mutafu said in an interview from Bizerte yesterday that the Tunisian official explained that his executive was not aware of Nkana being taken to a sub-standard hotel.
The FAZ treasurer, who is Nkana’s delegation leader, however, said the Zambians knew that it was just mind games by the Tunisians and that the team was not affected by such manoeuvres.
Mutafu said Nkana had since settled well at Bizerte Resort Hotel after rejecting a substandard ancient hotel.
Nkana arrived to a rude shock in the coastal town of Bizerte on Wednesday when their hosts dumped them at a stuffy old hotel which the Zambians outrightly rejected.
And veteran Nkana defender, Billy Mwanza was expected to return to full training yesterday after shaking off a knock he got from Zambia.
Mutafu said Mwanza was scheduled to join the rest of the team in full training yesterday afternoon after missing the first session on Thursday.
“I have been assured by the Nkana medics that Billy is expected to have a full training session with the rest of the team this afternoon,” he said.
Mutafu said coach Masautso Mwale rested the team in the morning before taking the players through the paces at the Stade 15 Octobre, the venue for tomorrow’s game.
He said Nkana were ready for Bizertin and wanted to give late veteran football commentator, Dennis Liwewe a befitting send off tomorrow by winning the pre-group phase tussle.
Nkana were held to a virgin draw by Bizertin last weekend in Kitwe and will need at least a scoring draw or victory to advance to the lucrative group stage of Africa’s second tier club competition.