By ADRIAN MWANZA –
SPORTS Minister Vincent Mwale has urged Chipolopolo to beat Guinea and reach the finals of the Rwanda 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Mwale said in an interview recently in Lusaka that the team has no excuse of not performing well when Government has provided everything to ensure their success in Rwanda.
He said qualifying to the quarterfinals elated fans and echoed President Edgar Lungu’s support to Chipolopolo.
“The team do not have an excuse of not performing well at the tournament when government has done everything possible for them. We, as government are very proud of the Chipolopolo and I would like to congratulate them and urge them to continue with hard work,” Mwale said.
Zambia Sports Fans Association (ZASOFA) strongman Peter Makembo has hailed President Lungu for promising to send a contingent of supporters to Rwanda if the Chipolopolo reached the semi-finals.
Makembo said the President’s move would help motivate Chipolopolo because the fans would boost the team’s morale by cheering them on.
He said President Lungu had shown keen interest in improving sports in the country which in turn would result in the country reaping medals.
“We would like to commend President Edgar Lungu for promising to send supporters to Rwanda if Chipolopolo qualify for the semi finals.
The gesture by the president is timely and should be commended by all well meaning Zambians,” he said.
Makembo said this was not the first time the President Lungu was sending supporters to cheer the national team because he had done so in Kenya and Mozambique during the AFCON and CHAN qualifiers.
He said football had the potential to unite the country regardless of their tribe and political inclinations.
He appealed to the Football Association of Zambia to ensure coach George Lwandamina is appointed head coach permanently because he had proved he can deliver the much needed results.