By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
UNDER-FIRE Chipolopolo striker James Chamanga is humbled by compliments from coach Honour Janza who described him as  a team builder when defending his selection in the 27-man provisional team for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking to the Press in Lusaka yesterday before the team’s departure for the final training camp in South Africa, Chamanga said he was happy to be selected for his sixth AFCON finals appearance and also that the coach regarded him so highly.
Janza named Chamanga in his provisional team but came under-attack for selecting the veteran forward, a decision he defended and described the former City of Lusaka player as a team builder.
“It is obviously pleasing to be looked at in such a manner by my coach. And what I would say is thank-you to the coach over such a compliment because he is the one who knows my football side and he knows what I can add to the team.
“He was under pressure because of my name and for him to defend me in the manner that he did is just great,” he said.
Chamanga, however, said his mind was not thrown off course by the attacks on his football and selection but was set to help Zambia perform well at the 2015 AFCON finals in Equatorial Guinea.
He said he would work hard to get some game time in Equatorial Guinea after missing at the 2013 AFCON competition in South Africa.
“I want to play and raise competition in the young ones. We have a lot of young players and for them to get to play means they have to be better than us and that is what is good for a team with an ambition like ours,” he said.
Chamanga said he would like to get to play and score at AFCON and help Zambia claim their second continental title.
While it was important to look at lifting the continental title, Chamanga said it was cardinal to look at the first task which was to win the opening Group B match at the tournament.
“The first game is very, very important. Once you win the first game, you set yourself a tone on how you will perform at the tournament so it will be important that we set all our energies on winning the first game,” he said.
Meanwhile, 18 Chipolopolo players led by vice-captain Nathan Sinkala and playmaker Rainford Kalaba yesterday left for South Africa to set camp for the final AFCON preparations.
The 18 wil be joined by the South Africa based legion before those in Europe kick-in.
The squad seen off by FAZ general secretary, George Kasengele had Donashano Malama, Christopher Munthali, Kalaba, Joshua Titima, Toaster Nsabata, Bronson Chama, Lubambo Musonda, Patrick Ngoma, Chamanga, Given Singuluma, Kondwani Mtonga and Jackson Mwanza.