.Janza

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

THE Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) and soccer fans bodies have backed Honour Janza to remain as Chipolopolo coach despite suffering a first round elimination from ongoing 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea.
Janza told journalists in Ebebiyin after seeing his side draw 0-0 with Cape Verde on Monday that he still wanted the job full-time, saying he had tested the waters and the best for the team was yet to come.
“I have tested the waters now, the best is yet to come and I think we can do well with the team that we have. If I still stay as head coach I still see a lot of results coming and a good team for Zambia,” Janza told Mtnfootball.com.
However, Janza is not new to the Africa Cup experience and tested the waters as assistant coach to Herve Renard in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
ZAFCA vice president Lewis Shambulo said in an interview yesterday that Janza had started started the process of rebuilding the national team and that ousting him would be suicidal on the team’s future prospects.
Shambulo said it was therefore important for the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to retain Janza as the team begins preparations for the 2017 AFCON qualifiers in June.
“As coaches we did not expect the team to go far in the competition because the squad is undergoing a transition and with time together they can achieve positive results. It took years for the 2012 AFCON winning team to deliver a trophy and we feel maintaining Janza and the current crop of young players should be the area of focus now,” he said.
He said the team played well and with the experience gained at the tournament, they would become a formidable side at the 2017 edition.
Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association (CSFA) chairperson Yotam Mwanza called on FAZ to maintain Janza for the sake of continuity.
Zambia Sports Fans Association (ZASPOFA) strongamn Peter Makembo said Janza should be given an opportunity to rebuild the team.
“We had two expatriate coaches on the technical bench at the AFCON and things failed to work for the team and in as much as we are disappointed with the team’s exit, we understand that the rebuilding process Janza has started will pay dividends in future and so FAZ should keep him,” Makembo said.