From SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
in Rubavu

ZAMBIA’s next opponents in the crucial African Nations Championship (CHAN) Group D game, Uganda, have been hit with injuries on key players and are likely to miss their must-win clash billed for tomorrow to stay in the competition.
But despite problems in the rivals’ camp, Chipolopolo coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina has told his players to be 100 per cent focused and ensure that they pick maximum points off Uganda to make the knock-out stage.
Cranes’ exciting forward and skipper, Farouk Miya and first choice goalkeeper Ismael Watenga both picked up knocks in their 2-all draw against Mali and have failed to train with the rest of the squad in the last two days.
Medics in the Uganda camp said they would continue to assess Miya and Watenga who have been watching their team training from the sidelines, but news from inside the Cranes’ camp suggests that the two are out of the game.
In the game against Mali, Miya created the first goal and scored the second but dislocated his shoulder after landing badly in the penalty box.
He was booked by the referee for simulation although the player never returned onto the pitch.
Watenga strained his groin when taking a goal-kick and also limped off the high-paced game that has left the entire Uganda squad reeling.
Zambia lead Group D on three points with Uganda and Mali in second position with a point each, and Zimbabwe anchoring the basement without a point.
This means that Uganda, the highest-ranked team in the group and the recently-crowned 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup champions, can as well kiss the tournament goodbye if they lose to Zambia tomorrow.
Uganda coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic and Uganda Football Association (FUFA) spokesperson Ahmed Hussein confirmed the injuries and that the medical team would assess the players to see if they could be fit for Zambia’s game.
“We are not certain these players will be fine ahead of our next game. But the medical team will keep monitoring them,” Micho said.
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the team’s morning workout, Lwandamina urged the Chipolopolo to forget the Zimbabwe win as it was history and that the players should focus on beating Uganda in what he was expecting to be a tough encounter.
He reminded the team of some mistakes in the first game and on the need for an improved performance against Uganda.
Head of delegation Happy Munkondya praised the coaching staff for psyching the team well for the next game and was happy that all was well with the squad and the players were injury-free.
“The guys are well-motivated for this game. They know what they should do and since they are all injury-free, we expect them to deliver,” Munkondya said.
Nkana defender Donashano Malama is eligible for selection after serving a red card ban, with the Cranes having Hassan Wasswa and Ivan Ntege who were also suspended.
Zambia last evening had a training session at Umuganda under floodlights as their match against Uganda starts at 18:00 hours.