Sat, 01 Jul 2017 11:53:57 +0000
By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
THE Chipolopolo today start their Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Castle Cup campaign with a quarter-final clash against Botswana at Moruleng Stadium in north-western province of South Africa.
Both sides enter the competition at the last eight stage after they were handed preliminary group stage byes.
Coach Wedson Nyirenda seems to have confidence in the squad he has assembled which comprises mostly of local-based players.
Coming from a disappointing 1-0 home loss to Mozambique in the Africa Cup qualifier last month, Nyirenda is hoping the COSAFA will be a turn-around for Zambia.
The Chipolopolo have won the COSAFA title four times in 1997, 1998, 2006 and 2013.
Zambia in 2016 were kicked out of the tournament after losing to Swaziland on post-match penalties under the tutelage of George Lwandamina.
Botswana was however a surprise package at last year’s tournament, losing 3-2 to defending champions South Africa.
Zambia and Botswana have met twice in the regional competition with the Chipolopolo winning 3-0 in 2000 and 1-0 in 2006.
“Botswana have improved so they are not a team to underrate. There is no small team this time. When you go on the pitch you have to apply yourselves accordingly, knowing that you are playing a bigger opponent.
‘‘We have to play knowing that we are playing a big team,” Nyirenda said.
Lubinda Mundia and Chitiya Mususu are expected to lead the Zambian attacking formation supported by Justin Shonga and Brian Mwila upfront.
The Zambian defence looks solid with the presence of captain Donashano Malama, Lawrence Chungu and Under-20 star Solomon Sakala.
Botswana coach Radipotsane Oris is confident that Zambia is beatable, saying if Mozambique can pick victory against the former AFCON champions, they can too.
“I have no much information about the team because Zambia keeps on changing national teams. We do not know it. We saw them play against Mozambique and they used another team when they played against South Africa in an international friendly,” he said.
. We saw them play against Mozambique and they used another team when they played against South Africa in an international friendly,” he said.
