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<\/a><\/p>\nElias Chipepo<\/p>\n
22 December 2011<\/p>\n
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AS coach Herve Renard prepares to name his provisional 26-member squad today, injuries have continued to rock the team with Thomas Nyirenda completely ruled out of the team for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.<\/p>\n
The defensive midfielder may not recover in time to make his second appearance at the 2012 AFCON finals that kick off on January 21 and run through to February 12.<\/p>\n
Team doctor, Joseph Kabungo said in an interview yesterday that Nyirenda had been ruled out completely as he would not recover in time for the Africa Cup finals despite him responding well to treatment.<\/p>\n
“Nyirenda is doing fine as you know we had given him a three-week period to recover and should start his rehabilitation next week.<\/p>\n
“The healing is fine but the problem is that he may not be physically fit in time of the AFCON finals as he needs to also start doing his Physiotherapy,” he said.<\/p>\n
Nyirenda underwent an operation on his nagging right knee at the Italian Hospital in Lusaka but joins towering striker Jacob Mulenga, of Dutch side Utrecht, who has already been ruled out after sustaining a knee ligament injury.<\/p>\n
The growing injury list may pave the way for Under-20 star Evans Kangwa to be included for his first ever AFCON appearance with the likes of Nathan Sinkala and Chisamba Lungu, who Renard has praised for their good show against Angola, likely to make the cut.<\/p>\n
Zambia, in Group A with Senegal, Libya and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, play the opening game against Senegal in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.<\/p>\n
The team that broke off camp for Christmas yesterday and is scheduled to regroup on Monday may see James Chamanga also missing the AFCON finals after suffering a recurrent ankle injury, while the medical team is yet to assess Jonas Sakuwaha, who was diagnosed with partial meniscus tear two weeks ago and is undergoing physiotherapy treatment at Ndola Central Hospital.<\/p>\n
There is, however, some sigh of relief for Renard as he unveils the squad at Football House after news that South Africa-based burly striker Collins Mbesuma seems to have recovered from a minor knock he suffered at his club Golden Arrows and was named in the starting line-up against Orlando Pirates.<\/p>\n
On Chamanga, Kabungo said the China-based striker has suffered pains in his left ankle and needs ample time to recover as the problem may take long to heal especially that the training is intense and so will be the competition.<\/p>\n
Kabungo said Mbesuma had a slight knock which was manageable, adding that he had a chat with the player who assured him that he was doing fine and that he was expected to feature for his club having not played since December 3.<\/p>\n
The doctor also said that he would be getting in touch with the medicalstaff that were working on Sakuwaha to get a report on how the player was doing.<\/p>\n
Kabungo said the important factor was the player’s health which he said should not be compromised, especially that a certain number of players would be registered for the competition and getting unfit players may be a disaster.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Renard said inclusion of some senior players in the squad would entirely depend on how physically fit the players would be because some Under-20 players drafted into the squad had impressed.<\/p>\n
Renard said after a training session at Sunset stadium that senior players would need to be in good physical shape to earn a place in the team and that some players from the Metropolitan COSAFA Youth Championship winning team may be included in the provisional list for the South Africa camping.<\/p>\n
He said he was so far impressed with the performance of the team from the time he took over and also showered praise on midfielder Lungu, who he played on the left-back during the friendly against Angola.<\/p>\n
“It is always good to have three new players in the team like was the case in 2010 when we had Emmanuel Mbola, Stopilla Sunzu and Thomas Nyirenda. No one knew them but you all saw how they played,” he said.<\/p>\n
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