By SANDRA MWILA –
CHIPOLOPOLO interim coach Honour Janza has expressed happiness with the players performance during the three-day training camp which forms part of preparations for the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Speaking after watching his side beat National Assembly 3-1 in a friendly match aplayed at Nkoloma Stadium yesterday, Janza said he was impressed with the players but urged them to work hard if they were to command places in the national team.
Janza said the players will need to prove their worth ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.
He said he was happy with the player’s determination and was confident that half of the group might be recalled when camping proper for the qualifier match against Mozambique set for September 6starts.
“So far so good, we had a successful camp for the local players who have shown that they have what it takes to be in the national team and are ready to put on Zambian colours. I am also happy with the new call ups from Kabwe Warriors and National Assembly and hope we will see more them during our friendly game against Sudan on August 30 in Ndola,” he said.
He urged the players to take each opportunity given to them at national team level seriously and develop their football careers.
“They (players) should take this opportunity when called for the national team as a stepping stone in their careers. I only hope the knowledge that we will add to them will make them reach standards of professional footballers,” Janza said.
Janza said he will name the players to regroup on August 24 based on their performance and was confident of coming up with a strong and formidable team for the qualifiers to be beefed by foreign based players.
And team doctor Joseph Kabungo said Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan to ascertain the extent of his ankle injury yesterday and results will be known on tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Janza was left satisfied after watching as his side come from behind to beat Assembly. This was after the ‘Parliamentarians’ took the lead through Moses Phiri but another Moses Phiri, this time from Zanaco, equalised for the Zambia.
Midfielder Bruce Musakanya gave Zambia the lead in the 60th minute before Rodrick Kabwe sealed the victory in the 61stminute.