29 December 2011
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Zambian FIFA referee Janny Sikazwe to be among the elite panel of referees to officiate at next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Meanwhile, Kick-Off.com reports that Zambia have begun a three-week training camp in Johannesburg in preparation for the Equatorial Guinea/Gabon AFCON Cup quest, which includes a training match against Bafana Bafana.
Zambia coach Herve Renard believes it is time for everyone to get behind Chipolopolo, saying he wanted to create a strong and united team during their time in South Africa.
Zambia and Botswana are the only representatives from Southern Africa at the finals and many South Africans are expected to get behind these teams considering the many players that have links to the PSL.
But Zambia must negotiate their way through Group A, which consists of co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal.
Renard has recently been reported as saying that when the team stays in Zambia there is “too much turbulence” around the squad hence the decision to camp in South Africa.
His group of players will play Bafana Bafana on January 11 in Tshwane before heading to Equatorial Guinea on January 18.
Some 25 Zambian players left for South Africa on Tuesday for the final training camp ahead of the 2012 AFCON finals with players expressing confidence of a good showing, while being cautious of group opponents.
And Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications manager Erick Mwanza said in a statement yesterday that Football House was delighted with the appointment of the Kapiri Mposhi based referee.
Sikazwe also officiated at the 2011 All Africa Games final match in Mozambique and FAZ said the appointment underscores the major strides and milestones the local game has continued to score.
Other Zambian referees that are on the FIFA panel include Wellington Kaoma, who was among elite referees at the Africa U-17 Championship in Rwanda in January this year, Bernard Chabala and Wilson Mpanisi.
Assistant referees on the FIFA panel are also at all time high and includes Romeo Kasengele, Ernest Simwanza, Bruno Tembo, Francis Shishekanu, Lovemore Jere, Kenneth Chichenga and Moses Mwale.
Mwanza said the deliberate training and capacity building programmes the association has implemented over the last four years have resulted in the training and retraining of more than 1,550 coaches, referees, officials and administration staff.
He said these programmes have impacted positively across all facets of the Zambian football in the process heightening competition and performance of all players.
Mwanza said the appointment of Sikazwe therefore came as no surprise considering the enhanced competitiveness of the Zambian league and various stakeholders involved in its day to day running, including referees.
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