CHIPOLOPOLO coach Avram Grant says players need to pull up their socks in order to play for European clubs.
Speaking at a press conference today, Grant expressed dissatisfaction with players who are not making efforts to play in Europe.
“To be honest I’m not happy with players who are not putting more effort to play in Europe. We all know Europe is the best school of football,” he said.
Grant has also advised football fans to support both the female and male Zambian national teams without comparisons.
“Do not compare the two teams, a woman is different and the requirements are different,” he disclosed.
When asked about not utilizing his some of his players on the pitch, Grant responded that he can’t use all the players as they needed to show that they deserved to play.
“Of course I’m learning all the time about players, about other things in Africa. We use them overtime so we can learn more about them,” Grant revealed.
Meanwhile, Grant was optimistic that the upcoming Four Nations tournaments will yield positive results as he named a 24 man squad for the challenge ahead in Malawi.
Zambia will join hosts Malawi, Zimbabwe and Kenya in a tournament being used as part of preparation for the June round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The tournament is slated for March 18-26 and will see each of the four nations play at least two games before Chipolopolo’s World Cup qualifiers playing away to Morocco before hosting Tanzania at home in Group E encounters during the FIFA window from June 3 to 11.
Full squad selected include:
(GOALKEEPERS)
Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United)
(DEFENDERS)
Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Zepheniah Phiri (Prison Leopards), Stoppilla Sunzu (Cangzhou Mighty Lions-China), Frankie Musonda (AYR United-Scotland), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Gift Mphande (Hapoel Rishon Lezion FC-Israel), Kebson Kamanga (Red Arrows)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav-Czech Republic), Lubambo Musonda (Sikebord IF-Denmark), Miguel Chaiwa Club Schaffhausen-Switzerland), Emmanuel Banda (Club Rijeka-Croatia), Frederick Mulambia, Joshua Mutale (both Power Dynamos), Clatous Chama (Simba SC-Tanzania), Abraham Siankombo (Zesco United), Obinno Chisala (Costa Do Sol-Mozambique)
(STRIKERS)
Patson Daka (Leicester City-England), Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans-Tanzania), Andrew Phiri (Muza FC), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy)
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, March 11, 2024
