Blog: Deliver qualification to AFCON
- Friday, October 9, 2009, 10:01
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by Ba Muzo
Deliver qualification to AFCON by beating Egypt, Mr. Renard!
On October 15th, three days after the Chipolopolo Boys’ mouth watering clash against back to back African Champions Egypt at Chililabombwe’s Konkola Stadium, French-born trainer Herve Renard will clock exactly 17 months as the Copper Bullets’ boss.
Renard arrived in the country on May 15th 2008 around mid-day and three hours later the former Ghana Physical trainer was spotted at Woodlands Stadium where he watched the Rainford Kalaba led Chan squad prepare for a contest with Botswana two days later at the same venue.
The Zamfoot Crew caught up with him and asked what Zambians should expect from him, the rookie trainer responded:
“I want to build for the future and qualify for the next African Cup of Nations in Angola.”
Zambia goes into the penultimate match in the World Cup/Africa Cup 2010 against Egypt with qualification to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Angola on knife edge.
At no time in his short career as Zambia coach has Herve Renard been handed any ultimatums by any Zambian since his arrival from Ghana to be Zambia boss.
Flash back: Herve Renard with Peter Kaumba at Woodlands Stadium on 15th May 2008.
But this time, the message is clear: deliver qualification to the AFCON in Angola by beating Egypt on Saturday at Konkola Monsieur Renard or be fired!
Zambia has never won the AFCON but has been vice-champions twice. Zambia has been to every AFCON since 1974 for the continental championships which started in 1957 save a few times.
The coach responsible for those failures which we can count with fingers on one hand has always been the casualty. So I do not expect that Renard will be treated with kid gloves should Zambia falter against the Pharaohs and throw our chances of going to Angola into jeopardy.
For Renard’s own information in qualifying to the 1974 tournament in Egypt we massacred Nigeria (one of his so called big teams) 7-4 on aggregate butchering them 5-1 in Lusaka and succumbing 3-2 in Lagos.
We went all the way to the finals and lost the only twice played final in the history of the competition 2-0 to a Mulamba N’Daye brace after Bernard Sinyangwe had rescued the earlier final which ended at 2-2 at the death in extra time.
1976, we did not qualify, we qualified in 1978 at the expense of Algeria who we dispensed 6-5 on post match penalties after a reverse score line of 2-0 apiece for both.
1980 we missed out but came back with aplomb in 1982 in Libya eliminating Morocco at the final hurdle via a 3-2 aggregate score line. In the group stages, the highlight was a 3-0 bashing of Nigeria with Peter Kaumba the tormentor in chief scoring a goal and later to be voted one of the best wingers of the tournament alongside the late Alex ‘Computer’ Chola.
Zambia lost to the hosts in the semi-finals but emerged third with Kaumba getting a goal in the bronze match with Vitafoam United’s Godfrey Munshya also scoring in the 2-0 win over Algeria. Kaumba took his tally at the tournament to 3 after scoring in the 1-2 loss to the hosts.
1984 we missed out but went to the 1986 finals dispatching again the Nigerians via a 1-0 aggregate score line and this was the tournament where Kalusha Bwalya announced his arrival on the African big stage scoring a goal from the spot in that memorable match which was seen at the best of the tournament.
It is shameful to talk about 1988 particularly for government, so I will not because we all know what happened.
In 1990 in Algeria we came out of the group stage ahead of Morocco and Cameroun and lost 2-0 to Nigeria in the semis. 1992 we qualified with Ghana to the quarter finals at the expense of Egypt in a three nations group of death in Senegal.
Zambia was third in 1996 with Kalusha emerging with the golden boot. 1998, 2000 and 2002 we qualified. 2004 was a disaster and somebody paid the price.
The last two we qualified under two locals Patrick Phiri after that memorable 3-1 away win over South Africa in the rainbow nation and Kalusha Bwalya respectively..
Now if we talked about this in AFCON terms, will you tell me Zambia is a small team?
Zambia has always been among the best on the continent. Yes at the minute we are down. We are going through a bad patch. A blip. But we are not out! Like the eagle on our flag, Zambia shall rise again. If you do not believe, I do.
I am on record having previously said Renard must continue to 2014. I am also on record saying that must be premised on qualification to the AFCON. Period.
Let it be heard in all corners of this nation: Zambia has qualified comfortably before to the AFCON with local coaches.
Failure to do so by Renard will be a serious indictment on his future as Zambia boss.
In fact, qualifying to the AFCON will be not a special achievement for Zambia. It will be an achievement for Renard since he is a novice at this level.
If Zambia goes to the AFCON, Renard would have built his resume. He can go wagging it to the so called ‘big guns’ of his looking for a job for all I care.
Otherwise, was it a small wonder that Ghana had not made overtures to engage him following the departure of his mentor Claude Le Roy from the Black Stars hot seat before the 41 year old came to Zambia?
Renard started receiving offers from the middle east and West African clubs after guiding Zambia to bronze at CHAN 2009.
This man must be grateful to Zambians for giving him an opportunity to train a good African national side and not calling us names when we demand for results.
Zambia has provided the platform for him to build his career, let him also provide qualification to Angola, a platform for building our team towards Brazil 2014!
I have no qualms with his dreams of coaching his so called big nation one day. So he should have no quarrels with Zambian fans wanting to see their team excel. Football is a results business.
I have not heard of Fabio Capello talking of building England after their dismal failure to get to the last European nations’ championship in that soon to forget spell under Steve MaClaren.
The iron fisted Italian has already booked a place to the World Cup with two games to spare with the same write off team that was miserable during the Englishman’s reign and below average under the Swede Sven Goran Eriksson.
It is expected of the Three Lions to perform well all the time because they belong to the upper echelons of the World game just as Zambia on the African scene.
A good local coach Ben ‘Pabili’ Bamfuchile (may his soul rest in eternal peace) qualified Zambia with a 100% record to Ghana/Ivory Coast AFCON.
And he repeated the qualification feat with a nondescript Namibia side (perhaps a team which one can term small in African football sense only for their second time in their history).
I won’t belabour this point any further. It is an expectation that the Chipolopolo must grace Africa’s premier sport show piece. It is non-negotiable. There is a very heavy price to pay for failure to do so.
It is a fact that many did not want to see Andrew Sinkala back in the team but Renard recalled Zambia’s best and most experienced holding midfielder.
I only hope Sinkala was not recalled to be a scapegoat. I did not like Renard’s comments on the recalling of Mbesuma after the South Africa goal scoring record holder missed a penalty against Rwanda. Renard suggested he bowed to fans’ pressure more than his own will. I hope it was an expression problem.
Bar his eccentrics, the Frenchman, to his credit, has showed he can hold his own against anyone. But that will not be enough if he does not show accompanying tactical grit to take us to the AFCON following our World Cup heart break.
The FAZ boss may not have put our desire to go the World Cup in black and white to Renard but on the unveiling of the Frenchman on May 16, 2008, the Great Kalu had said:
“We have time and patience with the new coach and we want him to do well. But the World Cup will not stop and wait for Zambia so we will try and bring Zambian football to the level that is acceptable to the World. We want to surprise ourselves and fulfill the dreams of every Zambian to reach the World Cup in South Africa.
It was our dream to go the World Cup but we failed with Renard. Mr. Renard has argued that Zambia is a small nation football-wise in justifying our abysmal exit from the World Cup race.
I do not share the philosophy of this man. Am sorry. Because I always wonder: how big where Angola or Togo when they made it to the World Cup? By the way, there is always the first time, isn’t there?
Anyhow, we forgave Herve Renard mainly due to other factors beyond his control and some of which I elaborated in my previous blog after our loss in Blida.
To the contrary failure to qualify to the AFCON is unpardonable! It is like treason in football no matter the circumstances! It is like taking away our birthright!
The Zambia team assembled for the Egypt match is one of the best in recent times and the AFCON should not be out of reach.
But it matters how Renard picks his first eleven on Saturday. That will be key. And I am not one who suggests which players should be picked but suffice to say the coach must be magnanimous and meticulous in his choices.
No soccer scouting antics or forms of appeasement must be tolerated whatsoever in picking players on Saturday. Let him put the team in order. That is his job. Mix experience with youth.
I have long advocated for a play maker at home. Zambia has always played the short passing game from time immemorial. Not chipante pante (Anywhere does it kind of football) which has yielded no more than one goal in the home matches in the conjoined World Cup/AFCON qualifiers.
The hey days of Zambian football were anchored in great ball distribution in the final third. Charles Musonda made his name for those defence splitting passes. That is what we need on Saturday.
Even the Republic President Rupiah Bwezani Banda, himself an ardent fan, intimated: try other players. Try other tactics I say. Do not be one dimensional!
I have heard of murmurs of certain players in the national team being assured of starting berths even before they report to training. That must stop. It is discouraging to players on form at their clubs and working extremely hard at training to be benched in preference of blue-eyed boys who may neither be regulars at their clubs nor on form.
Pick the best possible eleven in the right positions! This team is capable of beating anyone on this continent even the dreaded Egyptians. Zambia held them in that pressure cooker stadium crammed with vocal and unruly fans
To the Egyptians…It’s pay back time. We haven’t forgotten how you mistreated the lads in Cairo.
They touched our throats on the pitch. They spat on us They heckled us. They urinated on us. They despised us. They hacked us. But we came away with a point.
On Saturday, we must better that result and show that that Cairo result was no flush in the pan!
The Zambian fan must be the twelfth man, let us go to Konkola and revive the spirit of the ‘Slaughter House’ Independence Stadium which was a graveyard for stubborn and so called big teams.
And onward shall we match to Angola.
Again: deliver a victory on Saturday, Mr. Renard, or if I was the powers that be, any result other than a win, I would be in the hunt for someone else to take us to Rwanda for that last match.
N.B Under previous circumstances, I would not have traveled for this match because of the heat ache of failing to qualify to South Africa. But on reflection, the boys need our support through thick and thin. Plus there is the small matter of Angola 2010!
So my bags are packed and am traveling to watch the match. These Arabs make a lot of noise in their stadia.
We can do the same at Konkola. We can fill Konkola and make a lot of noise. I want to be in that number that will lose their voices on Saturday. This is a national cause. I do not want to be left out and so shouldn’t you!
Am excited! I will make no predictions though. We all have work to do for the Chipolopolo on Saturday for Egypt to fall! And fall they will! Come on you Zambians! Let’s go Zambia!
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Zamfoot has written 1972 stories on this site.
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Bigge, namulanda..chillies here we come! Chipolopolo
We just have to win,No two way about it!
Well said Ba Muzo.HR has the best players we have at the moment in his squard for the Egypt crush.The ball is in his hands,he has to apply the best tactics and pick the best eleven.”Ebu coach tumulipilila”.
What about the big-mouthed Kalu ? Is he going to stay if we get eliminated ?
Egypt will NOT beat Zambia tomorrow. The worst result for our chipolopolo boys will be a draw in tomorrow’s match. Egypt are bad travellers. In fact Zambia will win by 2-0. Mark my words. Our boys deserve a place at AFCON in Angola. In fact I would rather see Algeria go through to world cup than egypt. Algeria treated us far better than the egyptians. That aside, I think Algeria are a more organised and intelligent team than egypt AT THE MOMENT.
WELL written what more can we say, (Iam MAULESS). I mean you have exhausted all the points. good work ba muzo and all the best chipolopolo
Wonderful article Zamfoot, thumb up!!!!
Alas, at the time HR was being engaged as a coach, most zambian demanded for publication of his qualification, I remember Simataa calling him “a P.E COACH”. But the question here Ba Zmfut, How did find ourselves with a low profile coach? Many people insinuated the fact that Kalu and Abedi are friends, and HR at the time was a Black Stars physical trainer. ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT COACHING BRILLIANCE FAZ SAW A PHYSICAL TRAINER. Now this is history.
What have we learnt from HR issue?
1. A good recruitment process usually yield into recruiting right staffs in right positions
2. Right staffs usually deliver right results at a right time
3. Right staffs are hard to find
Is HR a wrong staff in a wrong position?
Is he a wrong staff in a right position?
Is he a right staff in a wrong position?
Is he a right staff in a right position?
These are questions most Zambians are asking themselves now, if we fail to beat Egypt tomorrow, say we lose “God Forbid”, who is to blame? Is it the HR or players or FAZ or soccer funs or Chicken or Patrice?
Most soccer funs in Zambia dream so much the tasks they lay in front of a coach are big. Zambia as a country hasn’t invested in players that can take us to the world cup. At the moment, we can not compare ourselves to England, Italy or France, these countries boost of local talents, all is needed is a last touch of a coach.
As Zambia, what we need now is to invest in our current collection of players and maintain the HR up to 2014, if we do not maintain HR, he will have achieved his goal but failed as country
God bless our Zambia
Its unfortunate that HR regard Zambia as a small team in terms of soccer.Has he ever seen a small Team reaching the final of africa cup, a small team with about 70% qualificatons to the africa cup, a small team producing great players.Let him stop underating us we are a big team in african football.Let him leave us alone if he is not confertable here.Tomolo by this time Egypt will kiss dust,they will be tormented.Zambia will carry the the day.Thank GOD iam a zambia born chililabobwe some Twenty years ago.May the souls of our departed Soccer heroes rest in peace.I end up Nkana Supporter.
Good article! I really believe we CAN beat egypt. They are very very beatable. Their skills depend on 2 or so brilliant players whilst for us we dont depend on any individual player, but play as a unit. Sad how they treated us, really sad (B.T.W who’s the player being strangled in the above picture?). And to imagine such ugly scenes happening on the pitch without anyone being red carded? If I recall the arrogant son of a gun Mido actually went to push Rainford Kalaba..But our own “Esther Kalaba Phiri” stood his ground. Thats why its good to have such players that play in high profile leagues on the pitch. Wafwa Pharaoh!!! Lets Go Zambia, Lets Go!!!
The being strangled in the picture is Francis Kasonde the one who scored the goal.We call him Kalanka Mr Reliable
Hay ppl of zambia;
We Algerians, didn’t treat you as Egyptians does, because we do respect zambia because they play clean and beautiful football, and honestly your team played very well against us, I think you deserve your place in ANGOLA 2010, so which you good luck : JUST BELIEVE AND PUSH YOUR TEAM !!!!!!!!
I DO NOT AGREE with you Ba Muzo.
You see,its as if you are living in a foreign Country.The problem which we have at the moment is the Zambian Economy,Kwasila!!.I think,at the moment,you can bring in Fabio Capello,Mourhino,etc..etc..,but you cant get a result.In the 70s and 80s you have talked about,Zambia was one of the richest Countries in Africa,our Copper,Cobalt,Zink and other minerals were working and bringing us money.We had excess money to fund sports activies,Athletics,Football,Volleyball etc..etc.What about now?.What have happenned?.Why are we not producing another player like Great Kalu?,Charles Musonda,Ucar or Kelvin Mutale?.Since 1996,our Soccer in the Country is gone down.People in Government started stealing massively,everyone knew how to steal and stopped fearing the Courts or the Police.Physical education was abolished in schools,recreation activties were scrapted off,football playing grounds were alocated as residential plots and Zambia started sinking.Zambians started to fear to talk,we all have just been watching without asking questions(we say ‘Palibe kantu).
My head is telling me,the problem is not the Coaches,but the material we have.Gone are the days when B.P Cup finals used to fill the independence Stadium,coz Fans were being entertained to great football.Where has the Football we were enjoying gone?.Instead of giving altimatums to coaches,let us bring back our Country to the Days of 80s and 70s.Let us stabilize our Counrty economically,then,we shall be able to compare ourselves to countries like Cameroon,Nigeria,S.Africa and Angola.
we are coming for u egypt.
Goodluck Zambia. Thats all i can say at now. Am just waiting for the game tomorrow. Hoping that Renard Picks the best team.
Ba DINAMO are you from Ndeke Village?If so then i know you very well
Imwe what happened in 1988???
We just have to win 2moro’s match if the players will mindful of the Pharoahs’ tactics…falling near the box easly and delaying tactics to kill the tempo when they’re ahead! Renard must balance the play with fast wingers to spread the opponent’s defense! I alaway admire Clifford for this job esp in the second half! Again Renard must be helpful to Emmanuel Mbola and Joseph Musonda will be ‘over-used’. Let the wingers be dropping to help Ema & Muso!!! Sinkala & group will be kept busy too by Abotrika…never give him chance to shoot I beg!!! For Mweene do be over-confident till the final whistle. As to the strikers, fight for the ball & be positive & never be selfish…pass the ball!! All in all, the match will be won in the midfied and switching wings!!! GO ZED GO ZED!
@smog
Thanks my man.
BA AWE in 1988 zambia was disqualified for failing to host the Africa cup.
am told the pitch is not in good state according to hr.hope this does not play against us.
Allot of the time we will need moments of individual brilliance to break Egypt’s defense in and around the box, in order to fashion a shooting chance, be prepared to dance…
@Mozads
You chased our fans from the stadium and you said you cannot guarantee their safety, this is unacceptable. You should be ashamed of this. You’re players showed more respect, unlike Egypt and that is the good thing. No diving, no time wasting… So congratulations for that.
rinard only talks
he dont do any thing more than that
go zambia ….zambia win egypt lost go go renard
@Shi Chamar
The player was not getting strangled. What happened during that incident is that Mido had pushed Chris Katongo because he thought he was wasting time going to the sideline after being substituted and the zambian players reacted. The Egyptian there was grabbing Francis Kasonde to calm him down. As you can see the focus of the players is on something else, more likely Mido and complaining to the ref to do something. Lets not use this picture as a war cry … when it is actually innocent in nature. I know cause I watched the game and I remember this happening. Ba Francis bali fulwa sana.
hello zambii …… zambi 0 egypt 0 zambi in AFCON
algeri 77 rawnda 0 ok zambiiiiiiii hello zambii …… zambi 0 egypt 0 zambi in AFCON
algeri 77 rawnda 0 ok zambiiiiiiii hello zambii …… zambi 0 egypt 0 zambi in AFCON
algeri 77 rawnda 0 ok zambiiiiiiii hello zambii …… zambi 0 egypt 0 zambi in AFCON
algeri 77 rawnda 0 ok zambiiiiiiii hello zambii …… zambi 0 egypt 0 zambi in AFCONhello zambii …… zambi 0 egypt 0 zambi in AFCON
algeri 77 rawnda 0 ok zambiiiiiiii algeri 77 rawnda 0 ok zambiiiiiiii
Chipolopolo………Iyeeeeee……….
Basanga tuleteya!!
“Its Rainford what a pass!! He finds Mbesuma can he, can he…
ITS A GOAL!!!!!!
Ba Kalampa Thats the good spirit tamumona how we cheer ba Nkana our Team its sad that Ba kalulushi morden stars balitusepa nevertheless premier we are coming with full force.
Its true the coach could be frustrated with the state of the pitch but we have no choice but to accept the stadia! Nothing more on the plate HR!! This Zed & just have to strategise in everything otherwise you will not do your job! Good Lucky my man but remember not over-shuffle the team for AFCON esp those boys you like bringing!! Experience counts and at national level we only need output player not developing player! Essentially your job is to use the club BEST output not to develop!! If then I suggest go to the club!!! I am sick of coaches saying I am developing players whilst us soccer fans cry for the results.We leave for today not tomorrow and player must work hard to be among cream de-cream! GO ZED GO ZED
it’s pay back time… strangling, spitting, bulliying in cairo. egyptians need to be taught a lesson.
what has killed zambian football ni chiluba and privatization of mines he didnt negotiate properly, imagine the “unders” of those days during zccm. which of course produced even sinkala andrew in chingola, that is no more, watson stadium chibolya nomba, nchanga stadium imoneka kwati muntu mwaponena akalumba, how can we improve our standards sure, football now ni ku chiparamba, how many zambian boys can be accomodated their, i think government neeed to revist some of its economic policies because they affect alot of things. it is true this articles talks of many achievements in terms of qualification to afcon, but the nursary also matters, by today we would have a replacement for mbesuma who i think will never go beyond is current level, LISTERN FELLOW BLOGGERS, MY SUSPICION IS THAT SINKALA AND MBESUMA HAVE COME BECAUSE OF THE FATE THAT MAY FALL ON US, SO THAT THE COACH WILL HAVE LESS TENTION FROM SUPPORTERS IF THE WORST HAPPENED, BECAUSE HE WILL OF COURSE SAT NALILETELE NA MBESUMA NA ANDREW MWALELILA. IMAGINE IF THE CURRENT ASSEMBLED TEAM WAS THE ONE WHICH STARTED THE GAMES TODAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER STORY MAY BE WITH TWO WINS OVER ALGERIA, BUT IT IS TOO LATE CHABIPA LYONSE ANDREW ESA NGAFYAKABA
this game we are winning no doubt i can assure chamz that vistory is certain. i mean there certain matches youi feel this one is ours i think zambia will do very well , you know zambia plays better without pressure and little xpectation from fans i think that we just need to play according to the coaches instructions and the best team on the feild. one player who must rise up again in katongo chris who hasnt been at his best so should mbesuma. i think lets go there and rally to the end. after this match FAZ should draw up a neat ,orgainized programme for training vis vee angola . lets cover up for the loses we have had. infact lets start preparing for tommorow as we play egypt!!!!
Good luck mother Zambia
Good Luck Mother Zambia and i know we will make it
The implications of this game are greater than just making it to the AFCON cup. This game will determine if we will re-invent the wheel for the upteenth time or the investment in the coach and the players start showing fruition and the future starts. This is the one game where i believe Zambia puts it together and takes the torch from the champions and announces our re-entry into the upper echelons of African football. But then again we can fall flat on our faces and the Critics will come out and cry for us to re-invent the wheel. I believe the former will and should be the scenario for the sake of our beautifull game.
i dreamt that we lost 3-1 with ZAKI scoring it was bad
@smog Thanks
Interesting how Zambian fans are always optimistic before big matches and despondent afterwards when the national team loses. I think the only other group of sports fans more fickle than Zambians [and I am Zambian] are New York Knick fans. Even in their hey days, Zambia were never a consistent side. That’s why they never qualified for the World Cup or won the Nations Cup with the likes of Chitalu, Chola, Kalusha and Charles Musonda. For the umpteenth time, Zambia is a second tier footballing nation in Africa. Not in the same class as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon or Egypt. But football being football, it doesn’t mean that they can’t beat any of the big guns, including Egypt. They definitely can. The only problem is that they can’t do it consistently enough. Until we develop the players and resources things will never change.
@ Ba Muzo:
” For Renard’s own information in qualifying to the 1974 tournament in Egypt we massacred Nigeria (one of his so called big teams) 7-4 on aggregate butchering them 5-1 in Lusaka and succumbing 3-2 in Lagos.”
There’s simply no logic here. Renard wasn’t referring to the 1973 Green Eagles. Just because Zambia massacred Nigeria 36 years ago doesn’t mean they can do it again or that Nigeria are not a big team.
@Amuna Onzuna
I agree with you on that one. The economic downturn has definately had a significant effect on the state of Zambian sport in general. I also think leadership and foresight has been lacking when it comes to admin section of sports. Nga ni ba FAZ, who are the most well funded (by government) in terms of sport, they are more than guilty of being short sited and really having short term solutions and expecting full benefits. Countries like Togo do not boast great economies, but they do boast one of africas best players…who may have been their greatest reason as to qualifying for the last world cup. The focus for FAZ should be on helping secure more funding to aid the local clubs, and place a newer emphasis on youth football. Look at ama sports complex on weekends, full of madalas yet the youth are out on some grassless pitch. There are no organized youth football leagues or school leagues. This is where FAZ needs to pick up the mantle. It is a low cost solution to FAZ… also I feel the rural areas have so much untapped talent and this can be monitored thorugh ama regional schools leagues. FAZ should look at what their acronym stands for; Football Association of Zambia!!! Not just the National teams, but of Zambia. Work hand in hand with the ministries of sport, and youth and child development in focusing on Youth football. Perhaps FAZs mandate does not cover youth football, but I for one think they should take an active role. These are things we can do in the near term, so we can see the benefits in the long term.
Ba Muzo Naimwe When Renard says Nigeria is a big team He means now. He is not talking about history. Zambia is not at the same level as Nigeria.
@jaggari
Awe chachine, we are not a big team in Africa anymore. Since the ‘94 and ‘96 Africa cups when we were being ranked in the top 40 world wide, we have definately fallen off the top tier. Right now we are ranked 81 in the world and 19 in Africa. We are the underdogs come saturday, but as a fan, one has got to be optimistic. Ine I really don’t know how to feel because I am more scared than anything else. I fear the pressure will be too much, and the Egyptians are just tactically more mature and alot more technical. All we can do is wait and see, I hope I eat my own words come saturday.
@jaggari
At least Knick fans have seen the trophy and we havent…..lmao!!!
Ati We outplayed Nigeria in 94….Do We honestly watch the same matches or maybe its the TV’s? Ba muzo there’s a clip on youtube called “Baptism of fire” And Awe how do you explain Jacob getting spat on?
pipo lets just wait and see for tomorow’s game it will detamine HR’s future for chipolopolo. @BA MUZo i agree with you will wait until tomorow,and i know chipolopolo will deliver against egypt,with the likes of MBESUMA and KALABA na SAKUWAHA na abena SINKALA naba shala awe mwandi ni kafwafwa!! on the other side the twelvth player is always on his best bushe na munfwa @ baleisa nama bus 35,mubikeko naifwe who will be coming on our own mailo cikalila icilata…………ZAMBIA 3…..egypt 1
tomorrow we have 35 million Algerians supporting Zambia. Go Zambia go.
@Gametime12
Hmmmm mudala bushe did I defend Jacob getting spat on? I was simply talking about the picture. Nothing was done or even any complaints filed concerning Jacob getting spat on, which really is a shame. We were too busy celebrating a draw and lost sight of putting in an official complaint with FIFA. I did not defend Jacob getting spat on, just explaining what was happening in the pic.
In 94, it was disappointing to concede an early goal, whilst we played for the equaliser in the second half, one would have thought if we got it we’d go on to win. We played well to try get it, but it was not to be.
@Gametime12
Iwe Gametime Zambia outplayed Nigeria in that game. Save for those few moments of brilliance from Okocha and Amunike’s goals we definately had a great game. If I remember correctly, the last 20 minutes of that match belonged to Zambia… ba Nigeria were barely touching the ball instead choosing to sit back and defend. We even hit the post, one article noted that a Nigerian was qouted as saying “God is a Nigerian” when that happened. We lost, but by no means were we outclassed or baptized by any fire. If anything we surprised the entire continent with our showing especially following April ‘93. Don’t let some Naijah boy on youtube make you think otherwise.
All the best to the “Mother Land” tomorrow. It won’t be easy. We going to make it difficult for the Egyptians at Chillies. The things they did to us in Cairo will “haunt” them come tomorrow.
No mercy to the Pharaohs!
¤Godfrey Munshya played for Roan and Warriors and not Vitafoam I think
¤People u cried for Sinkala, there is nothing like him being used as a scapegoat. By your own praises on the guy more than more deserved players in these qualifiers, the guy should just perform period-no room for failure for the General!
¤I don’t see the correlation between a good economy and soccer as not the richest teams on the continent have always won the AFCON.Poorer nations like Burkina Faso have better infrastructure and hosted AFCON. But ifwe kufilwafye hosting fye. The Zambian economy at least as per quality of life may not have been better in 1973 (oil prices escalated while copper prices plumetted) to 1990 as yalikosele life bane! It’s just bukabolala Post 1991 that messed us up otherwise we would be better off.
THIS ARTICLE IS VERY POOR EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORY IT GIVES. Ba Muzo who are you talking for? It would be better to speak for yourself and not for the Zambians who haven’t even given you that authority. You speak as though you hired Renard. TWO MAJOR FLAWS IN YOUR ARTICLE ARE CALLING FOR THE COACH TO BE FIRED AND VENGEANCE ON EGYPT. This is not time to call for Renard to be fired but to support and encourage him. Don’t judge the man on past glory with different settings from the present situation. Telling Egypt that its payback time is childish and unsportsmanlike to say the least. Even in boxing there is no revenge. Go do commentary on some sport or thing that propagates revenge.
At the momment we are in the process of building a strong team after being down for sometime. As for qualification for AFCON it is something expected. With the players we have and more to come we are in the right direction.
We should accept that our friends are ahead of us, but that does not mean we can not catch up. We can and we will
The best for our team now is to qualify for AFCON and attempt to go beyond the group stages. One problem we have in Zambia is that whenever our team has qualified then people start ordering them to go and win the Africa Cup
When I look at the current team I think there is a lot of room for improvement if things are well organised. The foundation is there and all that we need is to continue building until we reach the roof level. We should not expect to jump from the foundation and straight to the roof. All we need is a point for Angola and then we take from there
Our focus should be Angola2010, CHAN2011, Under17/20/23 and Brazil 2014
PS: I will watch Edwin Phiri if he will play for his club as the game is being shown live on on of the Swedish channels. I want to see for myself
Cheers
With all respect for HR, the fact is he has a big mouth. In todays Post some Blades official was angry at HR for this statement, please read below
Meanwhile, a visibly-upset Renard said after Zambia’s 1-all draw with Konkola Blades on Wednesday that the grass was too long for a standard pitch.
“Which player can play well on that pitch?” Renard asked. “You probably need to bring goats or cows to graze it.”
Renard’s sentiments, however, irked Konkola Blades chairman Mainga Maimba who dismissed them as nonsense.Maimba accused Renard of lacking respect for Zambians.
“We will not take anymore nonsense from him. It is this same bad pitch where Algeria came and wired us. He should just adequately prepare the team and deliver results instead of blaming the pitch,” he said.
“A bad cook always blames his tools.
“Last time, he told us that we should grow the grass and cut it to his specifications. We don’t even use this pitch anymore! This is unacceptable and incompetence.
“How many pitches do we have in Zambia that are like this one? Which playing turf is better than this?”
Ghana under20 qualified to the Semifinals of the World Cup after beating Korea 3-2. How I wish it were our under20 team
@Dinamo
Good points. What has happened to the Chisamba fimo fimo kanshi. Mr. Mumba from Zesco was pushing for this but FAZ are sort of relactant. I recall have seen something in the papers about this
@Awe
Obviously there was too much happening for one to come to conclusions just by looking at the picture. I was not accusing you of defending Jacob Mulenga getting spit on. Just wanted to mention that there was nothing innocent in nature during that incident. I guess We have a different definition of outplaying a team; the game against Nigeria was a tough one. At times the Nigerians looked more dangerous than Us. There’s no doubt that Nigerian team was packed with talent, I mean how would you expect us to win when you drop players like Gebby and keep Joel Bwalya? on Second thought We were outplayed if it wasn’t for James Phiri the results would have been disastrous. Dinamo this video was not edited please watch this and a part 2 of it, and explain how We outplayed the Nigerians youtube(dot)com/watch?v=zgZ_gVItwi4
Though Zambia played well especially after Nigeria subed Okocha, Nigeria had chances to score up to 5 or more goals in that game. All in all Nigeria were the better side
Good luck to Zambia
GO GO Zambia !! 30 million algerian will support you tommorrow!!!!
Please give the egyptian a football lesson !!!
egypte 3 zambia 0000000000000000
@zambia
is the best foooooooooot
am in green rite now,i might not be in chilalbombwe today but am with the supporters and the team in spirit.we have beaten egypt before and i dnt see any reason why we cant beat them today.lets bring the that joy of not loosing a game at home,the spirit of mighty indi podo.we have the bullets to kill the pharaohs.we have assembled one of the best teams ever and the best the players can do is to belive in themselves that they can do it.iyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ba zambia.
Me i think ba Muzo is correct in every way. Until Winston Churchill, the Roman empire was always going to be the biggest but now its the British. Dont let an imposter belittle your country at every opportunity. The physical trainers has to push his boys if he wants to be a coach.
The sad part is We’ve never been the biggest….All We can do is speculate on how far the lost ones would have taken Us.
PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA LETS SEE AND NOT RUSH TO BRAGGING ABOUT AND POINTING AT FINGERS ON THE COACHES AND FAZ. WE ARE THE ONES WHO CAN BILD THE TEAM AT THE SAME TYME WE CAN DESTROY IT