By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
TIMES of Zambia missed out on an opportunity to represent the country in the regional Standard Chartered ‘Road to Anfield’ five-a-side soccer tournament after losing on penalties.
The tournament played at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) in Lusaka yesterday saw the Stanslous Ngosa captained Times of Zambia side lose 3-2 in sudden death penalties to Super Strikers after a barren match and after tying 2-all in the initial penalties.
The team that had the likes of Mukuka Mundiye, Henry Zulu, Clement Chalwe and coached by Elias Chipepo and Christopher Mfula started the bid with a 0-0 draw against a youthful Matero Boys before thrashing SCB Copperbelt 3-0.
That victory was followed by a 2-all draw against World Vision but recovered well to beat Golazo 2-0 to storm the quarter finals.
‘Road to Anfield’ is hinged on the Standard Chartered Bank’s global sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club (LFC) and this is the first time that Zambia will be taking part.
The tournament will be played tomorrow at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) with winner progressing to represent Zambia during the Southern Africa Regional ‘Road to Anfield’ tournament slated for March 21.
That tournament will see Zambia compete with other winners from Zimbabwe and Botswana.
The winner will get the chance to meet some of the LFC legends, and a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on the actual Anfield pitch.
Last year, Standard Chartered hosted LFC legend, John Barnes, OBE who conducted a soccer clinic for youth soccer teams from Matero and Chunga, as part of the LFC sponsorship.