. Chilufya

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
DABID Chilufya has been appointed Forest Rangers head coach taking over from Willie Nkonde.
Chilufya bounces back at newly promoted MTN-FAZ Premier League side after spending two-seasons at Mozambican side Group Deportivo HCB where he was assistant to Wedson Nyirenda.
He will be assisted by Nkonde and Simonda Kaunda, who joins from relegated Roan United.
The two coaches, who were presented to the players at Dola Hill Stadium in Ndola yesterday, have been offered season long performance based contracts subject to renewal.
Chilufya spent 10 years at Zesco United as assistant coach from 2002 to 2012, winning two Premier league titles and Barclays Cups in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Forest chairperson Richard Kalasa said yesterday that the move to hire Chilufya and Kaunda was aimed at beefing up the technical bench in readiness for the 2015 soccer season.
“Our target is to remain in the premier league and probably finish among the top four teams next season and so we want to strengthen the team in all areas including the technical bench,” he said
Kalasa said Nkonde, who propelled Forest back to the elite league after a season stint in the second tier league, will be first assistant coach while Kaunda will be second assistant.
“We have confidence that with the experience that Chilufya will bring to the team, Forest will be a team to watch during the 2015 soccer season. We have also embarked on a recruitment drive of new players and we will soon be announcing the names of the players that have joined us,” Kalasa said
Meanwhile, Forest have offloaded excess baggage to pave way for new signings ahead of the new season.
The players released include goalkeepers Msinde Nyangula and Jairos Kabanji, Arthur Kasolo, Jonas Phiri, Mwendela Mwelwa, and Sidney Mwelwa.