• CHIPOLOPOLO striker Given Singuluma (left) dribbles past Mozambique defender Dario Khan during last weekend’s Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F qualifier played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. The match end 0-0. Picture by CLEVER ZULU

By HUMPHREY LOMBE –
OVER dependence on players that brought glory being crowned Africa Cup of Nations Champions in 2012 is proving too costly to the future and aspiration of developing our football in Zambia to an acceptable level.
The home tie goalless draw against an unimpressive Mozambique and a 2-1 loss away to an average side Cape Verde is a case in point.
This has led to a very shaky start in our quest to fight for a place in the 2015 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The reality of football nowadays is to feature players that combine skill and pace. Going by the selection of the team in the two matches, it appears that we seem to be placing more emphasis on experience.
There is nothing wrong with experience. After all, it is said that experience is the best teacher.
But this should not be at the expense of being competitive and winning matches.
An analysis of why South Africa, Cameroon and Spain in Europe have had a dream start to their respective African and European qualifiers is the decision to rein in on players that have outlived their usefulness.
While these players are appreciated for great contributions made playing for their respective countries they fell out of favour due to a decline in performance owing to age or physical limitations and other factors such as loss of self confidence.
They have given way to players that have the hunger and thirsty and vigour to be competitive.
Look at South Africa, coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba fielded a young developmental side which performed beyond expectation and gave a good account by achieving a 3-0 win away to Sudan.
Zambia played Sudan in a friendly winning 3-1 at the new Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka, a few days earlier featuring none regulars that put up an exhilarating display.
It was therefore, a big surprise to see Zambia lining up players mostly from CHAN 2012.
And it seems Zambia did not draw lessons from the humiliation of an early exit as defending champions in South Africa during last year’s event.
Cameroon who had a disappointing World Cup appearance in Brazil has overhauled the entire squad by introducing new young and energetic players.
The result was a resounding and comprehensive 4-1 victory over the Elephants, Ivory Coast. Spain, too, got to off to a flying start with a 5-1 thrashing of Macedonia after a disappointing World Cup where they were also eliminated in the preliminary round as the defending champions in Brazil.
The difference for Spain was in the midfield that was marshalled by young players Cesc Fabregas and David Silva in place of veterans Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso who have retired.
Maybe some of our players should take a leaf from the Spanish players and African greats like Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and Didier Zokora and Spanish and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and many more in Africa and Europe who have retired on their own without being coerced.
One hopes that our Zambian players can emulate their contemporaries. They should not be forced into retirement but should learn to speak to their conscience and do the right thing.
It’s time to fall back on the developmental side that won COSAFA – Confederation of Southern African Football Associations Cup with a retention of few players from the current squad which has had a dismal start in the Africa Cup qualifiers.
Changes should be applied in all departments with the exception of Stopilla Sunzu at central defence and head coach Honour Janza should find him a versatile partner.
In midfield, I would fancy Mukuka Mulenga playing behind strikers Singuluma or Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba.
Fwayo Tembo and Chisamba Lungu should also play a role.
We should stop being sentimental by playing names and gloating over past success and face reality and bite the bullet by bringing the curtain down on most of the 2012 CHAN players and inject new blood.