Zambia: FC Lupopo Keep Rangers Guessing

31 March 2011

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo (DRC) side, FC Saint Eloi Lupopo has kept Nchanga Rangers in the dark on their arrival for Saturday’s Orange CAF Confederation Cup first round return match set for Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.

And Rangers coach Bruce Mwape has said the three players who were carrying knocks from last week’s training sessions have recovered and ready for the game against Lupopo.

Rangers president, Richard Kazala said in an interview from Chingola yesterday that Lupopo, who defeated Rangers 1-0 in the first encounter a fortnight ago in Lubumbashi, were yet to communicate their arrival date.

Kazala, however, said the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM)-sponsored Rangers were not shaken by Lupopo’s strategy to play cards close to their chest.

“There is still nothing. Anyway, it is not our problem and we don’t even want to be seen to be panicking about it,” he said.

Mwape, on the other hand, said striker Kangwa Chileshe, midfielder Boyd Chanda and right-back Levy Zulu had recovered from injuries and were ready to steer the team and turn around the fixture to advance to the second round.

He said the latest injury casualty was central defender, Moses Malambi who had complained of an ankle pain.

Mwape said Malambi’s injury was not grave because he has been training and he was optimistic that the defender would shrug off the obstacle and would be ready for the encounter.

“So far so good I can say except that we are announcing our final list of players who will play tomorrow. Of course we expect a good game from us, the fans should actually expect a good game,” he said.

AllAfrica – All the Time