Chipolopolo coach Beston Chambeshi has expressed happiness with the character exhibited by locally based players during the four-day camping programme that kickstarted preparations for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
And the Chipolopolo boys have broken camp after four days of training under Beston Chambeshi and Aljosa Asanovic.
Chambeshi said the mix of local and foreign based players will be ready for qualifiers commencing on September 1 away to Mauritania before hosting Tunisia at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola five days later.
He said he was confident of assembling a strong side comprising local and foreign players ahead of the back-to-back clashes against Mauritania and Tunisia.
“We are moving in the right direction and hoping we don’t have any injuries with our foreign players, we will come up with a strong team to make sure we do our best and qualify the team to the World Cup,” Chambeshi said.
“I know the expectations from our nation (is high) but if we plan well and work as a team with my technical staff, I think we will achieve the needed goals.”
Meanwhile the team has broken camp and will regroup on Saturday for the long-haul preparations that will culminate into the world cup qualifiers.
All the 30 players summoned for duty reported except Nkana striker Alex ‘Bazo’ Ng’onga.
The technical bench was running the rule through the local players with the most impressive ones making the cut in the next training camp that kicks off this weekend.
Foreign based players will join camp in the final stages of preparations with a foreign camp pencilled prior to departure for Mauritania.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Kelvin Malunga (Nkana), Gregory Sanjase (Young Green Eagles), Lameck Siame (Kabwe Warriors)
DEFENDERS: Benedict Chepeshi,Prosper Chiluya (both Red Arrows), Simon Silwimba , Solomon Sakala (Both Zesco United), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars),Dominic Chanda, Field Kandela (both Kabwe Warriors), Kebson Kamanga (Zanaco),Isaac Shamujompa (Buildcon)
MIDFIELDERS: Ngosa Sunzu (Buildcon), Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba ,Dickson Chapa,Chanda Mukuka (all Zesco United), Prince Mumba (Kabwe Warriors), Boyd Musonda (Zanaco),Patrick Gondwe (Nkana), Felix Bulaya (Red Arrows), Miguel Chaiwa (Samuel Academy),Roderick Kabwe (unattached),Spencer Sautu(Power Dynamos) ,Harrison Chisala (Nkana),Julius Kumwenda (Athletico Lusaka)
FORWARDS: Brian Mwila (Buildcon), Alex Ngonga (Nkana), Joseph Sabobo Banda, Francis Mutalange (both Athletico Lusaka), Jimmy Mukeya (Napsa Stars)