By SANDRA MWILA –
ZAMBIA’S preparation for next month’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) suffered a setback with the Chipolopolo failing to find a suitable training ground as they prepare for the continental championship.
The George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina side, that usually trains on the artificial turf at the Independence Stadium in Lusaka yesterday shifted venue to a below standard Miller ground in Lilayi ahead of the CHAN that kicks off on January 16 to February 7.
Sources close to the team said it was unfortunate that the Chipolopolo had no suitable training ground and resorted to using a bad conditioned pitch ahead of an important tournament.
The source added that the players were having challenges training on the artificial turf because they are still not fit.
“We are suffering, we have no stadium to train from, we are now using Miller ground which is in a bad state and we could not use Independence Stadium because it has an artificial turf and it’s too hard for the players who are just coming from a break and are not very fit,” the source said.
A check at Miller training ground, which is used by Zanaco found the players training on the pitch that has long grass and patches of soil.
It is believed that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is financially strained and cannot afford to use the Heroes National Stadium as they owe about K815,000 in unpaid fees.
The association also owes the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium management around K1.2 million for use of the venue for international matches.
Recently, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) pounced on Football House because of unpaid K1.5 million statutory obligations a move which led to the Under-17 women team not competing in the FIFA 2017 World Cup qualifiers.
However, in an interview, team manager Lusekelo Kamwambi said the Chipolopolo were using Miller grounds to have a fill of natural grass.
Kamwambi also said that ‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga has been summoned to beef up the CHAN squad and that Steven Kabamba has joined the team.
Zambia is in Group D with Zimbabwe, 2015 CECAFA Cup champions Uganda and Mali.