NATIONAL team coach Wedson Nyirenda yesterday travelled to South Africa with a hastily assembled squad for today’s international friendly at Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg following the refusal by Zesco United and Zanaco to release their players.
The two clubs account for the majority of players in the national team.
Nyirenda summoned Zesco United players Jacob Banda, Kondwani Mtonga, Simon Silwimba, Fackson Kapumbu, John Ching’andu and Dave Daka while Toaster Nsabata, Racha Kola, Ziyo Tembo, Taonga Bwembya and Augustine Mulenga are from Zanaco.
Nyirenda complained in Lusaka yesterday before departure for South Africa that the players that were in his plans were not released by their clubs.
“I am travelling with a hastily assembled team. We had to make last-minute call-ups because Zanaco and Zesco have refused to release the players. Zesco told us that they cannot release the players because they are arranging visas for their trip to Angola for the Confederation Cup match against Recreativo do Libolo and they need all the players to be at the embassy.
“Zanaco said they could not release their players because they have a game on Wednesday [tomorrow], so we just have to do with the players that are there. We made last-minute call-ups and we have brought in Jubell Sakala from Nkwazi, Paul Katema, Lubinda Mundia, Webster Mulenga, all of them from Red Arrows, and Donashano Malama of Nkana is coming back,” he said.
But South Africa coach Stuart Baxter has maintained that he will field a strong team although he indicated that he will give the run to the players that did not feature in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications manager Desmond Katongo described the refusal by the two clubs to release the players as unfortunate.
“Tomorrow’s [today] game is coming on a FIFA-sanctioned day, so when the coach requests for players, he needs to be supported. We all know that Mr Nyirenda is trying to build a strong team but if he is denied access to the players, it will be difficult.
“As an association, we enjoy a warm relationship with all the clubs and we need to help each other, after all the Zambia national team is for all of us. When they win, we all celebrate,” he said.
Katongo said international friendly matches are important because they help the technical bench to assess players who could be used for future engagements.
Nyirenda will use the friendly against South Africa to strategise for next month’s African Nations Championship first round qualifier against Swaziland.
Today’s match comes barely three days after Zambia suffered a painful 1-0 home defeat to Mozambique while South Africa beat Nigeria 2-0 away.
Zambia and South Africa last met in 2015 in another international friendly and the latter won 1-0.
The team:
Goalkeepers: Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos), Charles Mweemba (Lumwana Radiants).
Defenders: Isaac Shamujompa (Nchanga Rangers), Billy Mutale, Lawrence Chungu (both Power Dynamos), Webby Mushili (Red Arrows), Alex Mwamba (Napsa Stars), Donashano Malama (Nkana) Jubell Sakala, Eric Chomba (both Nkwazi).
Midfielders: Stanley Nshimbi (Red Arrows), Godfrey Ngwenya, Fwayo Tembo (Power Dynamos), Nsofwa Mwansa (Lusaka Dynamos), Collins Sikombe (Napsa), Mwila Phiri (Green Eagles), Paul Katema (Red Arrows)
Strikers: Mundia Lubinda (Red Arrows), Ronald Kampamba (Nkana), Justin Shonga (Nkwazi) and Brian Mwila (Green Buffaloes)