.KALABA

From FELIX MALUNGA –

In Ebebiyin
AFTER sharing spoils in the 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener on Sunday, Zambia returned to work to prepare for the next Group B assignment against Tunisia tomorrow with skipper Rainford Kalaba calling for strong mentality among the players.
The Chipolopolo were held to a 1-1 draw by neighbours DR Congo in the first game at Estadio de Ebebiyin.
Coach Honour Janza and his technical staff took the team for a routine training session yesterday to prepare for the Carthage Eagles clash.
Apart from injured Nathan Sinkala, who has been ruled of the AFCON, all the players went through the training sessions and appeared in good spirits ahead of the Tunisia match.
Kalaba took a jibe at Tunisia saying the Carthage Eagles were no longer the strong force they used to be in the past.
He, however, said strong mental strength among the Chipolopolo players could give the 2012 AFCON champions the maximum points.
Kalaba said during a Press briefing at the team’s Hotel Inmaculada that going into the crucial encounter with a positive mindset and good character would be vital for Zambia’s aspirations to reach the quarter-finals next week.
He appealed for total commitment from his teammates to get past the 2004 winners who also drew their first game 1-1 with Cape Verde.
“Our mentality will determine how we will face them. If we go with a positive mentality and good character, I think we will get a good result. We have played Tunisian opposition before with my club (TP Mazembe).
I have seen that they are not more courageous like they used to be. We just need to apply ourselves 100 per cent and am sure we will get the positive result on Thursday,” Kalaba said.
After the draw with DR Congo, the Chipolopolo playmaker said the group was still open and believed Zambia would grab a ticket to the quarter-finals.
Kalaba emphasised on the need for the senior players to assume a fatherly role in the squad and help in encouraging the upstarts on the importance of the AFCON.
He said the AFCON was a big stage for great players and that fringe players needed to be guided for them to be motivated to fight for national glory.
“We just have to remain united and stay strong mentally because some of the guys it’s their first time to be at the AFCON. We just need to keep giving them more encouragement especially us senior players we should tell them what is expected of them here.
Everyone is fighting for the cup and this is different from other regional cups like COSAFA and local cups. This is the big stage for great players. As senior players, we are there guide the younger players so that they can get motivated,” the 2012 AFCON winner said.