AS the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) continues to dialogue with the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) over the release of the four Red Arrows players, former player Desmond Mugawa says the country has enough players to replace the quartet.

. Lwandamina

Mugawa, a former hard tackling Zanaco defender, said the omission of Arrows players will give coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina an opportunity to try out other players for the Rwanda 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
Arrows have refused to release four players namely Danny Munyau, Paul Katema, Benedict Chepeshi and Festus Mbewe for the Chipolopolo camping and subsequently for the CHAN tournament in Rwanda.
This is because the players are to undergo military training which serves as a pre requisite for anyone joining the Air Force.
But Mugawa said there was enough depth in the Zambian league for the technical bench to pick players from instead of insisting on the four who are out to secure employment in ZAF.
Mugawa said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the situation should actually work to Lwandamina’s advantage  as he would fuse in new players who are hungry to prove their worth.
He said it was unnecessary to insist on the Arrows players especially that they have been used in a number of tournaments and some where part of the disastrous Under 23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
“Why insist on the same players every time especially that the likes of Chepeshi and Katema were part of the disappointing Under-23 outing.
If anything, this is an opportunity for Lwandamina to try out new players in those positions who knows they might be better.
We have a number of players like Steward Chikwanda who are very talented and are hungry to prove themselves and do the nation proud,” Mugawa said.
He said it was time other players rested and gave room for new players that may add value to the CHAN squad.
Mugawa hailed Arrows for taking a step to empower their players with a bright future even after their football career.
However, FAZ communications manager Nkweto Tembwe said the association still has time between now and December 27 when the CHAN team regroups to secure the services of the Arrows players.
Tembwe said Football House is optimistic that a common ground will be reached with Arrows for the player’s availability. He said it was the job of the secretariat staff to ensure that players asked for by the technical bench are made available.
“The FAZ general secretary spoke and we shall maintain our stance that we are hopeful of coming to a common ground with Red Arrows to have players available. Between now and December 27 is a long time something might come up,” Tembwe said.