. Kapamba (left), Munthali (right)

By SANDRA MWILA –
CHIPOLOPOLO team doctor Joseph Kabungo has advised that striker Ronald ‘Sate Sate Kampamba undergoes a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan to ascertain the extent of his knee injury before he can be allowed to play any competitive games.
Kabungo has also said that defender Christopher Munthali needs a two-week break to recover from a groin injury.
This will certainly come as a big blow to Nkana, who face Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast in a crucial CAF Confederation Cup Group B decider next weekend, as they are likely to miss the services of both Kampamba and Munthali.
Kabungo said in an interview at the Barclays Sports Complex in Lusaka yesterday where the locally based players are training as part of preparations for the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
He said Kampamba, who did not take part in yesterday’s training, would not be allowed to take part in any training until when the MRI scan was made to get a diagnosis of his injury.
“It is sad that players are allowed to play despite having injuries. Kampamba has, in my view, been carrying this injury for over a fortnight now and it is not good for him to continue like that. It is not good for his career and for the nation at large. This is why we want to conduct the scan to see the extent of the injury,” he said.
He said Kampamba will undergo the MRI scan today at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.
On Munthali, Kabungo said the defender picked up the injury in Nkana’s 1-0 win over Egyptian side Al Ahly and that coach Beston Chambeshi has been advised against using him until he recovered.
Kabungo said he was concerned with the wellbeing of players because they were the same ones used for the national team.
“Let me take this opportunity to urge clubs against using players who are injured and they should be allowing these players invited for the national team to report so that we can check on them and help each other,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nyambe Mulenga, a 2012 AFCON winner, expressed happiness at his recall to the national team and has vowed to repay the faith showed in him by the coaching bench.
Mulenga, who was at Power Dynamos for the first half of the season on loan from Zesco United, said he will work hard to ensure he makes the final team that will play the qualifiers starting with the match against Mozambique on September 6 in Ndola.
“I will work towards repaying the confidence that the coach has shown in me, having considered recalling me after such a long time. Football is a learning process and it feels good to play with new players and I am alright with them but I only appeal to them to be humble towards old players,” he said.