U-23 Squad Leaves for Algeria

1 June 2011

A confident Zambia Under-23 soccer team yesterday left for Algeria ahead of Friday’s London 2012 Olympic Games qualifier, with coach Lucky Msiska declaring his charges ready for the task.

Msiska said after a morning training session at the Independence Stadium in Lusaka prior to departure that his team was ready for any challenges in Algeria as the Zambia soccer team aimed at making a return to the Olympics where the country last featured in 1988.

He said the coaching bench had worked tirelessly to ensure that the team was adequately prepared and he was happy with the experience Fwayo Tembo, Chisamba Lungu and Jimmy Chisenga had added to the team.

Msiska said he was happy that the defence had strengthened, an area which he said was lacking but was now certain of a solid rearguard as his team aimed to surge through to the final phase of the qualifiers for the London Games.

“I am happy that our defence is now stable because we have Chisenga who really played well in the past matches and I am happy that I was given the players I had asked for,” the former international said.

He also said the players had been physiologically prepared to withstand any intimidation that their hosts may put up but should remain focused on ensuring Zambia got a positive result away.

“I think in some way we are lucky to have started the first leg away because we know what our friends are capable of doing but we shall not concentrate on that as our aim is to win the match on the field of play and not talk much of what they (Algerians) may do to us for them to win,” he said.

Msiska said training at the artificial turf at Independence Stadium and under floodlights at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) would help the boys acclimatise well in Algeria where the match was expected to be played under synthetic pitch at the Alger Stade du 20 August 1955.

He said he decided to take the team for a morning work-out to maximise on the remaining days as the team arrives in Algeria this morning and train in the afternoon and in the evening at the Alger Stade du 20 August 1955.

Msiska, who predicated a tough match, said it would be important for the boys to remain focused and ensure Zambia remained on course to go to the Olympics.

Under-23 final 18

Goalkeepers: Allan Chibwe, Kenny Muma.

Defenders: Jimmy Chisenga, Derrick Mwansa, Cosmos Kabaza, Lawrence Chungu, Stephen Kabamba and Gift Sakuwaha.

Midfielders: Henry Banda, Simon Silwimba, Samson Chilupe, Chisamba Lungu and Richard Kasonde.

Strikers: Alex Ngonga, Fwayo Tembo, Lewis Macha, Rodrick Kabwe and Felix Nyaende.

Msiska is assisted by Bruce Mwape and Osward Mutapa.

AllAfrica – All the Time