Dario Bonetti shocked
Ex-Zambia coach Dario Bonetti has said the team will miss striker Given Singuluma who was sensationally dropped for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup.
The 2009 CAF African Nations Championship golden boot winner from TP Mazembe in DR Congo failed to impress Herve Renard in his Africa Cup plans.
Bonetti told MTNFootball.com that the decision to also drop midfielder Justin Zulu of Israeli club Hapoel LeZion was sad.
Both players were regular call-ups during Bonetti’s one-year reign.
“I’m very sorry for Given (Singuluma) and Justin (Zulu),” Bonetti said.
“I think the national group will miss Singuluma and Zulu quality.”
However, Bonetti praised coach Herve Renard for selecting the 20-year-old former Under-17 star Chisamba Lungu of Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast in Russia.
Chisamba, who is one of six 2012 Africa Cup debutants in the Zambian team, was a regular under Bonetti.
“I’m happy for Chisamba Lungu because I called him for the Cecafa tournament last year when nobody know him,” the Italian said.
Bonetti said overall, Renard has picked a balanced team for the tournament.
“The Zambia national team is very competitive, they are best age, experience and quality and can arrive in semi-finals easily,” he said.
Zambia are in Group A along with co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Senegal and Libya.