From SHAMAOMA MUSONDA  In Maputo –
THE confident Zambia soccer team arrived here in Maputo bubbling with confidence in readiness for tomorrow’s must-win 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F qualifier despite missing the services of Stopilla Sunzu through injury.
Unlike in the previous trips marred with chaotic travel arrangements, the Africa Charter Airline plane was yesterday on time, arriving at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) way before 07:00 hours with the departure only delayed because of late arrival of the fans and others in the travelling party.
The team that left Lusaka around 09:30 hours was met at on arrival in Maputo by officials from the Zambian Embassy here as well as officials from the Mozambique Football Association before they were taken to Hotel VIP while the rest of the fans went to Hotel Maputo in the Central Business District.
Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga is leading the Zambian delegation that has Sports Permanent Secretary Agnes Musunga, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya and his vice Boniface Mwamelo.
“We are happy with the accommodation here but that is less on our mind as we are focused on winning tomorrow’s game,” Janza said.
Janza said in an interview that injuries were a part of football and that every coach has to deal with.
“I know Stopilla, he would have wanted to be here with his friends. I know it’s not his wish to stay away and he must be more devastated than anyone else but that’s a fact about football which we have to live with, it has injuries,” he said.
Otherwise, Janza carried with him almost the entire team he summoned to camp in Lusaka that includes Under-20 start-up Changwe Kalale, who plays for FAZ Division One North side Chambishi.
Kalusha said Zambia just has to qualify for the 2015 AFCON final from here without taking the battle to Ndola.
He was happy with the reception accorded to the Zambian contingent adding that the team had enough rest before going for an afternoon training session.
“All we want is to play the game and win. We are focused on that and the team has ample time to adapt to this environment. We have to win,” Kalusha said.
Speaking earlier, Musunga expressed happiness that travel arrangements have been on time.
“It would make me happy to see a big headline that the plane was on time and even the team came to airport late. We told everyone to be at airport by 06:00 hours and very, very few were here that time,” she said.
Meanwhile, the team had a training session at the Costa do sol Stadium which is some distance from the Estadio Zimpeto, venue of tomorrow’s match.
The team will this afternoon have a feel the Estadio Zimpeto, the venue for tomorrow encounter and where the Zambia under-20 led by Lubambo Musonda had success earlier this year.