. Kalaba

By GWEN CHIPASULA –
CHIPOLOPOLO skipper, Rainford Kalaba and his two TP Mazembe teammates yesterday beefed up the Zambia soccer team for Sunday’s international friendly match against Malawi with the nimble-footed midfielder targeting the 2015 COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup in South Africa.
Zambian football has suffered badly this year on the international scene with all national teams and clubs failing in their respective African competitions but Kalaba and company are plotting to restore some of the nation’s battered pride by defending the COSAFA Cup and also qualifying the Chipolopolo to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Kalaba said in an interview after a morning work-out at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka that Zambia needed to work hard to retain the regional trophy and reaffirm the status of being a football powerhouse.
“Zambia is not a small team. We are going straight into the quarter finals at the COSAFA and we just have to work hard to maintain our image,” he said as he joined the team in training with fellow DR Congo-based players, Given Singuluma and Kabaso Chongo.
He has also expressed happiness with some fringe players talking part in the COSAFA Cup for the first time and advised them to work extra hard and earn places in the Chipolopolo set-up.
“COSAFA is a good platform for the guys playing for the first time. It is a great opportunity for them as they will have the chance to show themselves to other teams. It will help them show their talents and what they are capable of,” the 2012 African Player of the Year-based in Africa award finalist, said.
On the Malawi friendly, Kalaba said the Flames should not be underrated because all teams want to beat the Chipolopolo especially after Zambia’s historic 2012 AFCON triumph.
He said the team was taking the Malawi tie serious as it was a build to both the COSAFA Cup and the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.
“We just have to win this friendly because every team that plays us comes out very strong so we are taking preparations very seriously. Every team wants to beat Zambia, so we are not going to underrate Malawi,” Kalaba said.
He said the Chipolopolo should strive to qualify to the 2017 AFCON finals to be staged in Gabon, a place where Zambia claimed the 2012 championship.
Kalaba also promised to continue working hard and maintaining his current good form at his club, Mazembe.
“I am working very hard to keep the same form, it is not easy but I am trying,” he said.
Apart from the Mazembe trio, Chipolopolo coach, Honour Janza also had South Africa-based Mwape Musonda and Green Buffaloes goalkeeper, Fred Silwamba joining the training camp.
Meanwhile, Red Arrows midfielder Bruce Musakanya is a major doubt for the Zambia Under-23 team’s assignment in the CAF Under-23 African Championship qualifiers because of a nagging injury.
Coach Fighton Simukonda said he would not risk the young player’s career by rushing him back into action from an injury.
Simukonda also said Zanaco’s Salulani Phiri and Dave Daka were nursing hamstring injuries but the duo had not reported to camp to be assessed by team medics.
“I really have no idea as to why they haven’t come maybe they will be here in the afternoon. They need to be assessed by the team doctor but they haven’t said why they haven’t come,” he said in an interview yesterday.
The Under-23 squad regrouped on Sunday and Simukonda is yet to record a full house.
Zesco United and Power Dynamos player were expected in camp yesterday after featuring for their clubs on Wednesday.
Zambia, on bye in the first round,  will face the winner between Botswana and Kenya on May 23 in the second round of the CAF Under-23 qualifiers.
Botswana enjoy a 3-0 advantage over Kenya.
And Shepolopolo assistant coach Kape Saili said the women team was wanted to console the Zambian fans by beating Zimbabwe in the forthcoming CAF 2015 African Championship qualifiers.
Saili said Shepolopolo would work hard and knock out Zimbabweand put smiles on the Zambian faces following all national teams’ poor showing this year.
“We will not underrate Zimbabwe but it is a beatable team. We will make sure we beat them so that we bring back those smiles on our fans,” she said.
Saili said the technical team had made a few changes to the team that flopped against Tanzania in the 2015 Congo Brazzaville All-Africa Games qualifiers.