By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
CHIPOLOPOLO coach Patrice Beaumelle says he wants Zambia to play a strong side if the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) manages to secure an international friendly match on March 5.
And Beaumelle has said players who fail to report for camp should realise that there were other Zambians who were ready to take up their places in the national team.
Beaumelle said playing against a strong opposition will greatly help him know where the Chipolopolo would be positioned at the moment, apart from gauging the players’ fitness levels.
He said while there was need for the Chipolopolo to win when playing against big sides as that brings morale and confidence in the team, it was also important to access the players ahead of important fixtures.
Speaking after a training session at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka yesterday, Beaumelle, who expressed happiness at being the first side to have a feel of the new stadium, said there was need for the team to compete favourably.
“We need to play a strong opposition because that will greatly help us see where the team is at the moment and also accord us the opportunity to see how certain players can apply themselves in different positions,” he said.
Beaumelle said it was his wish that FAZ organises a high profiled match as was the case against the five-time world champions, Brazil, Jordan and former continental kings, Egypt last year.
Meanwhile, Beaumelle said players should honour up whenever they are called for the national team training because there were other better players who were left out but were capable of playing.
Asked if Nkana striker Evans Kangwa had given his explanation for missing camp, Beaumelle said there might have been some misunderstanding with the club for the player’s no show in Lusaka.
He said he wanted to have a look at Kangwa, a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winner, but that it was sad he did not make it.