Chris Katongo
CHIPOLOPOLO skipper Chris Katongo has been expelled from camp for sneaking into a lady’s room at Mukuba Hotel in Ndola.
And Katongo’s girlfriend confirmed that she spent a night at Mukuba Hotel with the 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year.
But team manager Lusekelo Kamwambi said Katongo was expelled because of his negative attitude that would affect other players in the team.
Katongo asked his girlfriend, who travelled from Lusaka, to book at the same hotel, and later sneaked into her room for the night. According to the girl, Katongo sneaked into her room at 23:00 hours and spent the night with her.
“Yes, I managed to meet him. He came in the room around 23:30 hours and he slept in my room,” she said.
When asked if she was aware that Katongo had been chased from camp, the girl said she was surprised because they were both sure that nobody saw him sneak into her room.
“Tapali abamumwene pantu aishile kuma 23:00 hours. Limbi ama roommates ebamuulwile (No one saw him because he came into my room around 23:00 hours. Maybe his roommates reported him to the coach,” she said.
When asked how long Katongo stayed in her room, the girl said: “Achilala mu room mumwandi. Achiya uluchelo kuma 07:30 hours so (He slept in my room and only left around 07:00 hours in the morning).”
But Kamwambi said Katongo was expelled from camp because of insubordination.
“Coach Janza, in a bold move aimed at bolstering team spirit and unity in the Chipolopolo, released captain Christopher Katongo from camp. Janza intends to make drastic changes to the team to face Niger on Wednesday. Therefore, he wished to spare the blushes of the captain arising out of the possible omission from the team,” he said
“No player will be kept in camp as has been the case lately once the final 18 players have been named. This is to avoid negative energy that might affect the team.”
Efforts to get a comment from Katongo proved futile as his phone was unreachable.
Zambia is struggling to qualify to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with 2 points after recording one loss and two draws from three games played.
Meanwhile, defender Stoppila Sunzu is set for a late fitness test to ascertain his availability for tomorrow’s AfCON return match against Niger.
Sunzu was excused from travelling to Niamey following a family bereavement.
Kamwambi said the towering defender was “not feeling okay” on his return to the team yesterday.
“He is expected to join the rest of the team today (yesterday). He is not feeling okay but the doctors will look at him and take him for some tests. That was our initial arrangement; we gave him a compassionate leave and later to be part of the team after the burial. The doctors will assess whether he will be physically and mentally fit for the game,” said Kamwambi.
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