Zambian and Moroka Swallows striker James 'Chama Boy' Chamanga has signed an eight-month contract with China Super League club Dalian Haichang.
Chamanga’s countryman and Birds’ goalkeeper coach Shadreck Biemba dislosed in an interview with Kickoff.com that Chamanga was due to make his debut for the Chinese outfit on Saturday, however he had to sit on the sidelines as his international clearance failed to arrive in time.
“I spoke to James on Sunday morning and he says everything is going fine and that the club is pushing him hard at training because he was not part of their pre-season preparations.
“The Chinese season has just started and Dalian has played only six games.
“However, James said he may be back in South Africa at the end of this month as the league in China is expected to go into recess soon to give way to the Olympics Games that are set to last for the whole month.” After the African cup of nations 'Chama Boy' attended trials in Norway but a deal could not be materialise.The former National Assembly star player is the leading PSL top scorer with 14 goals.
I can’t wait to work with Renard - Mulenga
FRANCE-BASED towering winger Jacob Mulenga says he is looking forward to working with Frenchman Herve Renard who has been appointed Zambia national team coach.
And midfielder Andrew Sinkala has recovered from tuberculosis and started training with his German second division side SC Paderborn 07.
Speaking in a telephone interview from France on Thursday night, Mulenga said the French were hardworking.
“I think it is a good idea having a Frenchman as national coach. Obviously being in France for sometime has helped me learn about how the French work. It’s a good step for Zambian football.
“I do not know him well but I’m sure the national team will have no problems understanding him. So I can’t wait to work with him,” said Mulenga, who plays for Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has offered Renard a contract until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Mulenga also said he was enjoying competition in the French league.
“It is not easy but it’s a step we all have to take to get to the highest level. I will get there in Jesus name,” he said.
Mulenga also said he was ready for a national team call-up for this monthend’s 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo in Accra.
“After playing so many games with the national team I know we have what it takes to do it,” he said.
Swaziland is the other team in Group 11. Eritrea pulled out due to financial constraints.
Sinkala said in an interview from Germany that he was fit to play for the Chipolopolo.
Sinkala missed the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana due to sickness.
“I started training with my club three weeks ago and I played a friendly game for 90 minutes last week. To play 90 minutes means that my health is okay,” he said.
Sinkala said he wanted to be part of the team that would bring honour to the country.
He also advised Zambians to avoid interfering with Renard’s work.
Sinkala said the Frenchman should be left to do his work.
He said Renard was joining the Chipolopolo at the time when expectations among the people were high that Zambia would qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“He should be left to do his work and people in-charge of football can just advise him if need arise,” Sinkala said. -Daily Mail
Katongo backs Renard
ZAMBIA captain, Christopher Katongo has said he would mobilise his teammates to give new coach Herve Renard as much support as possible if the Frenchman is to deliver the desired results.
In an interview from Denmark yesterday, Katongo said he was looking forward to working with the Frenchman and appealed to all stakeholders to give him the needed support.
Katongo said the new coach needed enough support especially with the beginning of the conjoined 2010 Africa Cup and World Cup qualifiers this month-end if Zambia is to qualify to both tournaments that would be hosted by Angola and South Africa respectively.
Zambia is scheduled to play the first qualifier against Togo in the Ghanaian capital Accra on May 31.
“I am yearning to come and see the new coach and see what he has for the team. I am sure he will bring in new ideas. We need to give him support so that he can share his ideas with the people and us as a team in particular. With support from everyone, he can do it,” Katongo said.
Katongo said Renard’s biggest challenge would be to have a good curriculum vitae (CV) and also to show the entire world that he was not only an assistant coach material but could also handle a national team as head coach.
“I know Renard as Ghana’s assistant coach. It’s a challenge for him to have a good CV and show people that he can coach a national team,” Katongo said.
Renard was Claude LeRoy’s assistant in Ghana but the Black Stars have since lost the two Frenchmen after LeRoy was sacked while Renard landed the Zambian job that had been vacant since the expiry of Patrick Phiri’s contract on March 31 this year.
Katongo admitted that qualification to the two prestigious soccer tournaments would be rough and cited Togo as the most formidable opponents in their group.
He said the Togo encounter this month-end would not be an easy game because the ‘Hawks’ were Zambia’s main obstacle to qualification to the Germany 2006 World Cup finals winning 1-4 at the decisive stage in Lome.
The Chipolopolo skipper said Zambia would play Togo with vengeance.
“Togo beat us the last time we met and we have to work on revenge. We will by all means try to avenge what Togo did to us. I know the game won’t be easy, in fact all the matches are difficult,” Katongo said. -Times of Zambia
Renard quits as Ghana physical trainer
NEWLY-appointed Zambia national soccer team coach Herve Renard was engaged as a physical trainer for the Black Stars in Ghana.
And FAZ vice-president Emmanuel Munaile has said it will be a bonus if Renard qualified Zambia to the 2010 World Cup.
Ghana Football Association officials revealed yesterday that Renard was engaged as physical trainer after out-going head coach Claude LeRoy recommended him.
The officials revealed that local Stellas Tettah was LeRoy’s deputy coach and has since been re-deployed to that country’s Under-20 national soccer team.
“One of the reasons that the GFA and LeRoy have failed to agree is on the assistants. They were not comfortable to extend Renard’s contract after July and Tettah has been relegated to the Under-20,” the source disclosed.
And according to the BBC, LeRoy admitted that the break up of his coaching team affected his decision whether to stay on with the Black Stars or not.
"My assistant Sellas Tetteh left for the Under-20's and with Herve Renard my other assistant they couldn't renew his contract for financial reasons.
"We built a dedicated team of staff and as it wasn't possible to work with the same staff I think it was better to start on a new adventure," LeRoy told the BBC.
In an interview after appearing on a local radio programme, Munaile said qualifying to Africa’s first ever World Cup in South Africa in 2010 requires massive investment.
Munaile said in his opinion, it would require more than two years for Renard to build a team to qualify to the World Cup but if he did within the specified period, it would be a bonus.
The FAZ spokesperson said there was nothing wrong in offering the top coaching job in the country to a physical trainer.
“When you are a physical trainer, does it mean you don’t know football?” he asked after being queried on FAZ’s decision to settle for a second assistant from Ghana. “That guy (Renard) has a diploma in football, not physical education. How can someone with a diploma be a physical trainer?”
Munaile wondered if Renard had only served as physical trainer in all the previous clubs he served.
“The answer is no!” he said, adding; “They (in Ghana) only divided duties for the coaches.”
Renard is expected in the country this week to finalise his two-year contract. -The Post
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May 12 2008, 03:15 AM
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