By SANDRA MWILA –
ZAMBIA  under-20 coach Beston Chambeshi has described the 2017 FIFA under-20 World Cup draws as fair and believes they give Zambia a good chance.
The World Cup runs from May 20 to June 11 in South Korea.
African champions Zambia were drawn in Group C of the World Cup together with heavyweights Portugal, Costa Rica and Iran.
Speaking in an interview from South Korea, Chambeshi admitted the teams Zambia was pitted against were also good and the fact that they qualified to the World Cup, meant his team would need to fight.
“The Group looks fair but what will determine our performance will be adequate preparations,” Chambeshi said.
His assistant coach Bilton Musonda said the group looked fair on paper but no team should be underrated.
“All the teams look good, it will be a tough competition but Portugal does pose the biggest threat to us among the group opponents,” Musonda said.
He said Portugal is a strong opposition and performed well at the last edition of the World Cup.
“It all borders on preparation, how we prepare is how far we will go and I am sure FAZ is preparing our camping in Europe,” Musonda said.
Musonda added that the Four-Nation’s tournament Zambia had been invited to in South Korea will help the team shape for World Cup.
“The good thing about this four-nation tournament is that it will help the boys familiarise themselves with the climate and facilities in South Korea,” he said.
Musonda added that the Zambian fans should continue rallying behind the team as the 12th players was a moral boaster to the boys.
Portugal qualified to the last edition of the under-20 World Cup in New Zealand and managed to advance past the group stage but ended in their journey in second round.
Host South Korea are in Group A alongside Guinea, Argentina and England  with Group B having Venezuela, Germany, Mexico and Vanuatu while South Africa is up against Japan ,Italy and Uruguay in Group D and then .
Group E has France, Honduras, Vietnam and New Zealand while Group F has Afcon runners-up Senegal, the United States of America (USA), Ecuador and Saudi Arabia.
Zambia under-20 striker Fashion Sakala Okayed the draws and felt that the team should not be intimidated by any team.
“We just need to focus on what we want to achieve. The only team that I am really scared of in our Group is Portugal but we should not fell intimidated,” Sakala said.
Meanwhile Portugal based midfielder Emmanuel Banda said it will not be an easy competition but that Zambia will make it in the group.
“The group is fair enough, we have 100 per cent chances of making it through to the next round. It won’t be easy but we shall defiantly go through,” Banda said.