BidVest Wits midfielder Noah Chivuta is disappointed at having been omitted from the Zambian squad to play at the Nations Cup.
The left-footed attacking midfielder has arguably been the best Zambian in the PSL this season, but strangely the Zambian national team selectors have found no reason to call up the man who has scored six goals playing from midfield.
“Being left out of the squad is disappointing because if the selectors were really watching the PSL games and monitoring my performance, I would have obviously been called up.
“I am really amazed because it appears the selectors use a strange system of selection that is in no way related to performances. I wonder if they ever watch the games and get updates of how players are doing.”
“I think they select players based on reputation and whether they know them rather than the kind of form they are showing on the field. I know it in my heart that I should have been selected into that squad but all this will not pull me down but instead make me better and motivate me to continue enjoying my club football. ”
“I think you are called into the team on the basis of being known rather than how you perform at your club. It is quite bizarre that a player from a struggling Mvela League team is found to be better to do national duty than a player whose team is at the top of the PSL. ”
“Even James Chamanga had been left out despite having been doing well at Swallows and was only called up at a later stage after the selectors had been made aware of his form,” says Chivuta.
Although saddened by his omission by the selectors with whom he has never been popular, Chivuta is still praying for a good performance from the Chipolopolo.“Our national team can be so weird at times because when they go in underrated they always do well. They can also be full of surprises and I feel that this time around they will stun some teams,” he reasons.
source: kickoff
Isaac Chansa believes that the Chipolopolo of Zambia could make it all the way to the last four of the African Cup of Nations…
‘Helsingborg and Zambia midfielder Isaac Chansa has expressed confidence in the Chipolopolo’s ability to make it through to the semi-final stage of the African Cup of Nations next year in Ghana.Speaking with BBC Sport, the mercurial midfielder insisted that his team will progress from the irgroup at the expense of one of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Pharaohs of Egypt
,”We have the chance of qualifying for the second round and even playing in the semi-finals,” the player was quoted as saying by the BBC.
“I see myself there because we are going in as underdogs and might surprise the other teams.”It’s obvious from the way the coaches, the officials and the players are preparing and the mood in the camp that we will go far.”
“I base my confidence in the players because I have trained with the team and I see us going far because of the effort the guys are putting in during training,” he added.
“When it comes to the games even if we are playing the defending champions [Egypt] or Cameroon, the biggest team in Africa, I think we will be able to do it,” concluded the 23-year-old.The Chipolopolo are currently training in Spain, and will face the Cartage Eagles of Tunisia and the Atlas Lions of Morocco in friendly matches before they head to the West African country of Ghana for the tournament proper in January.
CAF Champions League holders Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia have reportedly signed Zambian youth international Tembo Fwayo from Zambian club side Edusport of Lusaka on a five year contract.
The 18-year old attacking midfielder was a prolific goalscorer at the 15th edition of the African Youth Championship held in Congo in January with five strikes to his name.
Tembo was also a member of the Zambian under-20 team that represented Africa at this year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup championship in Canada.
Fwayo, however, could only manage one goal in three games for the junior Chipolopolo at the tournament.
Before this move to Etoile du Sahel, the dazzling attacking midfielder had also attracted interest from top European club sides.
Spanish giants Real Madrid were reportedly in the hunt for the youngster, taking him on trial, while Swiss club side and UEFA Cup hopefuls FC Zurich also had their eye on the player.
Source: Goal
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