. Lwandamina

By SPORTS REPORTER –
GEORGE Lwandamina says Zesco United’s qualification to the semi-finals of the CAF 2016 Champions’ League should silence the doubters.
Meanwhile, Lwandamina hurled unprintables at Times of Zambia chief sports reporter Samuel Lukhanda before Wednesday’s match that left officials and security personnel bewildered.
Lwandamina said people should now stop questioning the team’s ability to win the tournament.
He said this in a post match interview after Zesco drew 1-1 with Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the group’s last game played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Lwandamina said the semi-final tie with Group B winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa will be no different from what Zesco has already faced.
He said there was no need to question Zesco’s chances especially that the team was given an outside chance of reaching the semi-finals.
“Sundowns are just a team like any other. If anything, Zesco was not even considered to go this far, (but) you are still questioning Zesco,” Lwandamina said.
Zesco progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament as runners-up of Group A after missing the chance to top the group following the 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
Group winners Wydad will face their North African rivals Zamalek of Egypt, who finished second in Group B behind Sundowns.
Lwandamina said he was content of the team’s performance in the group stage despite conceding nine goals in six matches.
However Zesco were the highest goal scorers in the group with 10 goals.
“Conceding is part of the game. That’s how football becomes interesting. What is important is that we have done so well. We have reached the semi-final,” Lwandamina said.
Wydad coach John Toshack said he was glad that his side would meet Zamalek in the semi-finals as it would be easier and cheaper.
Toshack said Zesco were a good side and praised the Zambian champions for putting up a good fight in the group, adding that the Ndola side was good enough to reach the final and hoped the two meet again.
Prior to Wednesday’s match, Lwandamina had to be restrained as he wanted to physically attack Lukhanda.
Lwandamina found the journalist in the mixed zone area and immediately went on the offensive insulting Lukhanda and his family for an article he authored that was clearly misunderstood by the Zesco coach.
“Are you not from the Times? Why did you write that I snubbed a briefing in Morocco?” Asked Lwandamina as he charged at the reporter in a bid to assault him, but was restrained by other media personnel and police who were present.
Lwandamina continued to hurl offensive words at the reporter including his family in bizarre fashion that left even his players shocked.
Lukhanda said he was shocked by Lwandamina’s reaction because the said story he alluded to, was the mandatory CAF pre-match press conference which Lwandamina refused to hold at Levy Mwanawasa the previous day (Tuesday).
“I don’t think the coach read the story because he is talking about Morocco while the story was referring  to the previous day’s occurrence.
“We were here at the stadium and he refused to hold the conference saying he needed to be written to before he could hold one. I challenge him to deny that fact,” Lukhanda said.
Lukhanda was, however, advised by some Zesco top officials to put his complaint in writing.