What The Papers Say

Mayuka, Kola recalled to U-20 -Times of Zambia

COACH Oswald Mutapa junior has called strikers Emmanuel Mayuka and Roger Kola who are now regulars in the senior team to beef up his Zambia Under-20 squad for next weekend’s must-win 2009 Rwanda African Youth Cup qualifier against Mauritius in Port Louis.

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Rodger Kola, Zambia’s top scorer, at the World Youth Cup in Canada last year had a two weeks stint at Spanish giants Real Madrid fc. He has netted 3 times in 7 appearances for the senior team including a debut goal against Swaziland in CHAN Qualifiers.

Mutapa said it would be disastrous for his team which participated at the 2007 Africa Youth finals in Congo Brazzaville and the World Youth Championships in Canada to miss out at next year’s tournament.

He said it was important that Zambia continued to take part in the African Youth finals especially after playing at the FIFA World Youth finals.

Mutapa said Zambian football could only improve if youth national teams continued participating in the African and World Youth championships.

“It is important that we are there because to miss out of a championship that we participated in and did so well last year where we even went to the World Cup would be disastrous for us. We can only improve if we continue participating in such tournaments,” Mutapa said.

Door for Mbesuma is still open, says Renard -The Post

CHIPOLOPOLO Boys coach Herve Renard has said the door for clubless striker Collins Mbesuma is still open.

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Reacting to calls that Mbesuma and other senior team players should be considered, Renard said it was not possible to close the national team door to any player.
It’s not possible to build a team with old players,” he said.
Renard also revealed that this month’s COSAFA senior national team tournament would feature a lot of new players.

“I have to find new players for the COSAFA,” he said.
Renard said he was looking forward to improving his record.
He said no single coach in the world would proclaim to be a solution to any team’s woes.
Renard said teamwork was paramount in Zambia’s successful campaign for qualification to the 2010 Africa/World Cup in Angola and South Africa respectively.

“I work with assistants, if we deserve to qualify… it will be team work,” he added.
Renard said Zambia’s Group 11 clash against Togo on September 6 would be equivalent to a final.

“I said after we lost to Togo that the match on 6th September will be the final. I hope fans will be ready for 6th September,” he said.

Renard also praised the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).
He said he enjoyed a good working relationship with the current FAZ executive led by Kalusha Bwalya.

“I’m impressed with the federation. Zambian football is on a good way,” Renard noted.