Felix Malunga
30 December 2011
ZAMBIA’S preparations for the Orange African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals have been dealt another blow after Israel-based midfielder William Njobvu became the latest casualty to be ruled out of the competition due to injury.
With the continental soccer showpiece to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon due to start in three weeks, Njobvu will be out for up to five weeks after sustaining a right knee injury at his club, Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmone.
National team doctor, Joseph Kabungo said from the Chipolopolo training camp in South Africa yesterday that Njobvu had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan on Wednesday.
Kabungo said from Johannesburg that Njobvu, who desperately wanted to play a role in the Chipolopolo AFCON campaign, was devastated by the injury.
He said he spoke to the 24-year-old, who was a part of the 2008 and 2010 AFCON squad, who told him that he would undergo surgery on Monday.
“William got injured at his club. An MRI scan was done on his knee yesterday (Wednesday). He will be going for surgery on Monday. He is out for at least four to five weeks,” Kabungo said after the squad’s morning training session.
Njobvu, who has been in top form at his club and featured in the Chipolopolo’s recent friendly against Nigeria, has joined Holland-based striker, Jacob Mulenga on the AFCON sidelines.
On the condition of China-based striker, James Chamanga and Konkola Blades midfielder, Thomas Nyirenda, who are still struggling with a knee and ankle injuries respectively, Kabungo said the duo were making steady progress and was hoping for the better next week.
He said Chamanga and Nyirenda were still undergoing some rehabilitation and had been put on a special light training programme and was hopeful they could still make the Equatorial Guinea trip.
The team doctor, however, recorded a clean health bill for the rest of the players in camp.
The Chipolopolo have set up a three-week training camp in South Africa which coach Herve Renard hopes will give his charges the solitude they need for the AFCON finals.
Zambia will face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on January 11 at the Atteridgeville Super Stadium in Pretoria before leaving for Equatorial Guinea on January 18.
The Chipolopolo are drawn in Group A along with co-hosts, Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal.
Renard’s men will open the AFCON finals campaign against Senegal’s Teranga Lions on January 21 in Bata.
And Zambia’s acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Kasanga has advised the national team to focus on achieving results than playing beautifully at the AFCON finals.
Speaking when the Chipolopolo delegation leader, Kelvin Mutafu and team manager, Lusekelo Kamwambi paid a courtesy call on him at the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria yesterday, Kasanga said the nation was more interested in results rather than some fancy display from the national team.
In a statement released by First Secretary for Press Patson Chilemba, Kasanga said the spectators were more eager to celebrate results at the AFCON finals.
Mutafu, who is FAZ treasurer, said the team prioritised winning the 2012 AFCON to honour their late colleagues who perished off the coast of Gabon in 1993.
Meanwhile, the Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association (CSFA) will on Monday meet at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) in Lusaka to strategise on the trip to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
CSFA chairperson Yotham Mwanza said the soccer fans wanted to make travel arrangements so that they go to West Africa as a group to drum up support for the Chipolopolo who are in the same group as co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Senegal and Libya.
“If Nigerians, Camerounians and other countries have been doing it, why can’t we also try it out? We don’t want fragmented support but we should be in a group so that we cheer our team. We are asking all well-meaning soccer fans to come,” he said.
AllAfrica – All the Time