May 29, 2008
After expressing his wish to wear the senior Chipolopolo jersey , former under 20 rookie defender, Nyambe Mulenga has been summoned by the Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard to join the squad.
In an interview with Zambiafootball.com on saturday Nyambe said,”My dream has always been to play for the Chipolopolo and I’m ready for challenge. First I have to prove myself at Zesco then maybe the coach will consider me for selection.”
Nyambe is a son of former Zambia defence kingpin Eston ‘Yellowman’ Mulenga.
Elsewhere, French physical trainer Patrice Beaumille, who is part of the technical bench under new Zambia coach Herve Renard, is awaiting to join the Chipolopolo camp in Ghana ahead of this weekend’s combined 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifier against Togo wrote The Times of Zambia
Also being expected was Zesco United defender Nyambe Mulenga, drafted in to replace Francis Kasonde who sustained a knee injury in training while team skipper Christopher Katongo joined the squad yesterday with clubless Collins Mbesuma jetting into Accra a day earlier.
Team manager, Lusekelo Kamwambi said Beaumille was expected at 20:30 hours while Mulenga was expected at 23:00 hours.
“We will have a full squad tonight (last night). Everybody will be in and the last person we are expecting is Nyambe who will arrive late,” Kamwambi said
Mbesuma said he was happy to be back in the national team and that he would endeavour to work hard in order to win the confidence of coach Renard.
He said his nagging knee injury had finally healed and that he was fit to play.
“I am very happy to join my colleagues here. I arrived yesterday (Tuesday) and everything is okay. It’s good to be back in the squad,” Mbesuma said.
The burly striker who has just been released from Turkish side Bursaspor Kulubu, said this weekend’s match against Togo would not be easy but that the team would put in extra effort to ensure victory.
“It’s going to be a hard game. Togo is not an easy team but we will work hard. We will go an extra mile,” Mbesuma told Times of Zambia in interview
Katongo said in an interview that he was looking forward to the game this weekend and that it was important to win the first match in the qualifiers, as it would shape up team’s chances of qualifying to the two 2010 soccer tournaments.
“A win will boost the team’s spirit and we will ensure we rule our group. It’s very important to win the first game in the qualifiers because it will shape our destiny in the campaign,” said Katongo of Danish club Brondby IF.
46 Comments on "Nyambe, Mbesuma Joins Squad"
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Anonymous on Thu, 29th May 2008 4:09 AM
Big Steve from SA says:
Is it not time to let go of this hold onto the Mbesuma legacy?? The guy has hardly played in Turkey, is currently clubless due not meeting standard and yet is with the National team. We have strickers in turkey and all over the place that are actually scoring goals at the highest level and we insist on Mbesuma. Could someone please enlighten me on the sense in this callup. Should a player not prove himself at club level to be considered for national duty???
Anonymous on Thu, 29th May 2008 5:38 PM
I think Mbesmua will have to earn his place in the starting team from here on.
I have to commend Renard for his approach to call-ups given our circumstance, also to FAZ for allowing this all to be possible. Even if a player is playing in Europe, say a defender, how will we know he is truly on form? It’s best to bring them in and access them in warm-up matches.
Let us also welcome a new era where players can honestly declare there status and ambitions. We prey a repeat of what happened calling up players before Ghana2008 does not happen again.
thanks
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