. Katongo
By SANDRA MWILA –
OSTRACIZED former Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo says he is ready to play for Zambia at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Equatorial Guinea next month.
But Katongo, who was chased from the Chipolopolo camp after a misunderstanding with coach Honour Janza, said he was available for selection though his inclusion largely depends on the coach.
Katongo was chased from the Zambian camp on October 13 prior to the Chipolopolo return match against Niger which the home side won 3-0. The team went on to beat Mozambique and Cape Verde with identical 1-0 victorious to clinch qualification.
“I am a still a football player. I am not finished because I still have the energy to play but it will depend with the people who are in-charge of picking the team to include me or not. Otherwise, I am available to play at the AFCON finals,” he told the BBC Sports live show on Saturday.
Katongo refused to dwell on what caused the fallout but that he would write a book on what happened adding that what happened was in the past and he was looking ahead to playing more football.
He also said all teams that have qualified for the AFCON finals had a good chance of winning the competition and it will depend on how teams prepare to win the title.
Meanwhile, midfielder Chisamba Lungu has warned his fellow foreign based players to work hard or risk not making the final team to play at the AFCON finals.
Chisamba said in an interview in Lusaka that foreign-based players were no longer guaranteed permanent positions in the team because locally based players were performing well.
The 2012 AFCON winning star said there was need for all the players to work hard and fight for positions.
“We are no longer guaranteed positions in the team, all foreign based players have to work hard and fight for positions because the local player are a threat. It no longer matters where you play because what matters now is what you can do on the pitch,” he said.
Chisamba called for hard work if the Chipolopolo were to reclaim the continental title.
