. Janza

By GWEN CHIPASULA –
MTN-FAZ Premier side Red Arrows have lined-up former Chipolopolo coach Honour Janza to take over as their next trainer.
Arrows towards the end of last season was coached by Hector Chilombo in an acting capacity after the club relieved Mathews Phiri, who is now at demoted Nakambala Leopards, of his duties.
But word doing the rounds says Janza has already agreed to take over at the Zambia Air Force sponsored side.
Arrows media liaison officer Michael Kalembwe said in an interview yesterday that nothing had been agreed but confirmed that the Nkoloma outfit was interested in the services of Janza.
He said Arrows were interested in engaging Janza as head coach because they believed he could do a good job and turn the fortunes at the 2004 league champions.
Last year, Arrows maintained the same seventh position it achieved in the 2015 season but this time managed 46 points, from the 43 points in 2015.
Kalembwe said the club had expressed interest in Janza and that he had been formally approached but was yet to respond.
“There are rumours everywhere that we have signed him, no not yet. The truth is, we have officially reached out to him but he has not yet responded to us. So we shall announce if something positives come up,” he said.
He said the club is interested in Janza’s services adding that they feel he can work well with Hector Chilombo who was introduced to the club as assistant coach.
And when contacted for a comment, Janza, who is also FAZ technical director, opted to be mute over the reported deal.
Janza, who as a player featured for Mufulira Wanderers and Zesco United, also drilled Zesco.
He took up the national team coaching mantle in August 2014 after interim Chipolopolo trainer Patrice Beaumelle ditched the squad to link up with his French mentor Herve Renard in Ivory Coast.
Janza managed the Chipolopolo at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)  finals in Equatorial Guinea where Zambia was ejected in the first round.
At the 2015 AFCON, Janza criticised the Chipolopolo players’ mentality after losing 1-2 to Tunisia in the group stage.
In March last year, FAZ sacked Janza upon arrival from Ethiopia where he guided the Chipolopolo to a 1-0 win in an international friendly match.
FAZ dismissed Janza as caretaker coach just five days before Zambia
opened the 2017 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea Bissau.
Janza, who claimed he felt betrayed by FAZ, was replaced by George Lwandamina.