From FELIX MALUNGA –
In Ebebiyin
CHIPOLOPOLO striker Given Singuluma is dreaming big after scoring on his Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) debut against DR Congo.
Singuluma’s sublime finish just a minute and four seconds into this Group B opener gave Zambia the lead before Yannick Bolasie salvaged a point for DR Congo with a powerful shot on 66 minutes.
The TP Mazembe forward’s previous participation at the continental stage for Zambia was at the 2009 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament for players based in Africa.
Singuluma said he had a feeling that he would score against DR Congo and that he was happy he managed to hit the target for Zambia.
“I would like to thank the coach (Honour Janza) for giving me a chance to play at the AFCON. I had a feeling that I will score and fortunately it came early which was good,” he said.
Singuluma, the 2009 CHAN topscorer, said he was looking forward to an even better performance in the next game against Tunisia tomorrow.
He said he was hopeful of scoring again in the tournament and promised to work even harder here.
“I still have a feeling that I will score again, that’s why am on the pitch. As we progress in the tournament, we will continue putting in more hard work but it will depend on how we take our chances,” Singuluma said.
Overlooked for several years at the national team by previous coaches, Singuluma has managed to win the heart of Honour Janza who has even given him a place in the starting squad.
The Congo-based striker wants to payback the coach’s confidence by performing well and help Zambia qualify to the quarter-finals.
“We are here as a team, we are working together as a team. So we are looking forward to do our best in the next game and collect the maximum points. Because everything we are doing here, we are doing as a team and it doesn’t matter who scores. What’s important is for the team to go to the quarter-finals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sports Permanent Secretary, Agnes Musunga has challenged the Chipolopolo players to prove their inclusion in the squad by beating Tunisia tomorrow to brighten Zambia’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals.
Musunga said there were many other players in Zambia who could not make it into the AFCON final team, hence the need for the current crop in the Chipolopolo squad to justify their inclusion through good performance.
She was confident that the current squad was just as capable of lifting the AFCON trophy like the class of 2012 and re-affirmed Government’s support to the Chipolopolo.