Botswana 1-0 Zambia
Young Arrows' centre back Whiteson Simwanza scored an own goal to gift the Zebras a slim advantage but the junior Chipolopolo can still overturn in the return leg on 17th May.Simwanza was playing his first international game but scoring an own is not the end of the world. The elegant Young Arrows defender has been in fantastic form this season. Even the great Elijah Tana costed Zambia's qualifying to the 2004 Afcon when his back pass to Davies Phiri was intercepted by Benin striker and Zambia lost.
Prior to this match Botswana had played two friendly games against a developmental South African side while Zambia only had four training sessions and played a friendly against Green Buffaloes.
The young guns started their training on Monday afternoon (in the morning they were attending the Gabon Memorial) and they had a morning session on Tuesday before engaging Buffaloes in the afternoon.
Wednesday was the only day they had a full training programme.
The developmental squad then left for Botswana on Thursday in two batches via South Africa. Traditionally, Botswana plays its international matches on Saturday but they switched it to Friday in order to catch the Chipolopolo off-guard...thumps to the Tswanas, they have achieved their objective!
To FAZ, keep on experimenting as we need a wide base of players to choose from after all from our Afcon starting line-up, only Chris Katongo, Joseph Musonda, Kennedy Mweene and James Chamanga are regulars abroad. But FAZ should also learn to strategise. For instance if they knew they wanted to try-out other players (which is a good thing), they could camped them for two weeks.
Clive Hachilensa and Ian Bakala are back in the local league with Bakala being the key man for City of Lusaka. He has netted two goals from midfield. Hachilensa only played is second game for Zesco United after spending the last two months attending unsuccessfull trials in Turkey and Georgia. In Tunisia, Felix Sunzu Jr has not yet scored AS Marsa while Fwayo Tembo is still groomed for the feature at Etoile du Sahel.
Zanaco's Kennedy Nkhetani hasn't improved as his club are struggling in the league while Billy Mwanza has been out of favour at South African PSL side Golden Arrows. Mwanza made his first start last week since the Afcon.
Ghana 2008 revelation, Felix Katongo as usual is still updating to life at France ligue 1 side, Rennes. Katongo has been impressive in the reserves and has only made it twice to the Rennes bench.
Another French export, Jacob Mulenga has only 1 goal to his name in over 20 appearances for Racing Strasbourg. Strasbourg are battling for their Ligue 1 status as they are in relagation zone.
Forgotten son, Collins Mbesuma hasn't featured for Turkish side Bursaspor since November last year. In Germany, Moses Sichone has been in top form but is he going to be around for 2010? Andrew Sinkala has been ruled out of season with tuberculoisis.
On outspoken Elijah Tana, he is past his time, the veteran can't even play for 90 minutes in the local league.
In conclusion, time is running out for Zambia (with new coach yet to be appointed) but their are no short cuts in football-pick the players on club form not on past glory! These should not be personal to holder position. In the Swaziland game, Zanaco's Eugene Shamakamba partnered Hichani in central midfield and yet he hasn't played for a single game this season.
If Zambia is to rekindle its past glory, we have to have a good and balanced foundation and at the moment we don't have but we have enough quality to start rebuilding and fans have to exercise patience
The squad which played Botswana today was well balanced; form and talent-wise but didn't have the experience. Its such kind of games where they gauge their strength at international level. FAZ erred in sending the likes of Dube Phiri, Clive Hachilensa, Ian Bakala, Joseph Musonda(& Chintu Kampamba-arguably Zambia best defender at the Afcon but his age-30 ), Nkhetani and Mike Poto.
The experience and exposure these gentlemen gained at the Afcon was a share waste of time and tax payers money. Imagine the likes of Simwanza, Stophira Sunzu, Chisamba Lungu, Lyainga Chiwanki, Kennedy Mudenda, Judge M'kandawire, Banda 'Thiery' Henry given that sort of exposure (one wonder some fans where crying for the inclusion of Hichani Himoonde,21), we couldn't have been crying about lack of experience and experimenting at the moment.
But if Faz are serious, maintain the same crop of players that faced Botswana and recall the likes of Hichani Himoonde, Ignitious Lwipa, William Chinyama and Emmanuel Mayuka then we will have a formidable local based squad.
Read the complete post at http://zambianfootball.blogspot.com/2008/05/tswanas-have-achieved-their-objective.html
Posted
May 02 2008, 03:15 PM
by
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