By SANDRA MWILA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has urged the Chipolopolo to beat Kenya this Sunday when the two sides clash in the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E qualifier.
•PRESIDENT Lungu juggles the ball when he visited the Chipolopolo squad at Heroes National Stadium yesterday. Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE.
The President, who visited the Chipolopolo during training at the Heroes National Stadium yesterday, said it would be embarrassing for Zambia to lose to Kenya.
Lungu told the players to aim for victory, especially that he had been invited by the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for a State visit and wanted to go to Nairobi with his head high.
“Guys where you are going you need to win. I have been invited by the President there and I want to meet him with my head high. If you lose, how is he going to welcome me? Losing will be embarrassing,” he said.
The President, who spoke in Bemba, told the players that he believed in them and was confident that they would carry the day.
“When playing, you should use physiology so that you can win the game. The nation is behind you, if you lose you will kill us with high blood pressure. I know you can win and you will win,” President Lungu said.
The President, who arrived in a helicopter and was accompanied by his Press aide Amos Chanda, Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila and Sports Deputy Minister Ronald Chitotela, urged the players to believe in themselves.
“If you have self-belief and confidence then you will win the game. The 12th player, who constitute the supporters, will be there to cheer you. We will support, I love you and that’s why I am here,” he said.
Meanwhile, when introduced to the Chipolopolo team driver Maybin ‘General’ Sitali, the President said the current bus was old and that there was need to buy a new one.
“Is this the bus that I saw outside, the one you use? It is old; we need to buy you a new Marcopolo bus,” Lungu said.
The President, who was presented with a Chipolopolo team jersey, track suit and a ball signed on by the players, took time to showcase his footballing skills by juggling the ball as the players and technical bench cheered him on.
Earlier, coach George Lwandamina dropped strikers Paston Daka and Walter Bwalya from the squad as he unveiled his final 23-member squad to face Kenya.
Also missing from the squad are the Israel duo of defender Emmanuel Mbola and striker Evans Kangwa who play for Hapoel Ra’anana but failed to report on time for camp. TP Mazembe defender Kabaso Chongo has also been dropped.
The full team has Kennedy Mweene, Danny Munyau, Jacob Banda, Christopher Munthali, Kondwani Mtonga, Boyd Mkandawire, Stoppila Sunzu, Jack Chirwa, Benedict Chepeshi, Donashano Malama, Solomon Sakala, Chisamba Lungu and Nathan Sinkala.
Others are Rainford Kalaba, Lubambo Musonda, Paul Katema, Aaron Katebe, Buchizya Mfune, Benson Sakala, Collins Mbesuma, Winston Kalengo, Jackson Mwanza and Friday Samu.
