Zambia: Lwandamina Fumes

  

Chipolopolo coach 'Chicken' George Lwandamina is irked by the premature release of the national team final player list for the Rwanda 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals.

Sources close to the technical bench yesterday revealed that Lwandamina did not want the names of the final squad to be in public domain yet as the move has brought about less competition in the team.

The source said the coach was annoyed that players who have made the Chipolopolo CHAN final list will become relaxed, while those that have been left out of the team will get demoralised.

The source said the release of the final list in the media before its intended time has disturbed the rhythm in the team as the players who were dropped were not told in advance as per standard practice.

"Lwandamina is not happy with the premature release of the final CHAN squad list and he says the development has disturbed the team spirit and rhythm.

"Other players are now relaxed because they know they have made the team while others are demoralised because they have been dropped," the source said.

A check at the morning training session at Nkoloma Stadium found the axed players in Toaster Nsabata and Boyd Mkandawire still training with the team under the guidance of assistant coach Irfan Kawri.

Lwandamina watched proceedings from afar as Kawri took the players through training.

"It is sad that such news can break even before we spoke with the affected players, this has really dampened morale in camp and the coach is not happy with the people who gave the list to the media," the source said.

The final 22 players are expected to leave for South Africa on Friday to set up base there and fine tune for the CHAN.

Zambia is in Group D alongside neighbours Zimbabwe, who have been to every CHAN edition, 2015 CECAFA Cup champions Uganda and West African side, Mali.

The full list submitted to CAF has goalkeepers Jacob Banda (Zesco), Racha Kola (Zanaco) and Lawrence Mulenga (Kabwe Warriors). Defenders are Christopher Munthali (Power), Solomon Sakala (Warriors), Donashano Malama (Nkana), George Chilufya (Zanaco), Bichizya Mfune, Adrian Chama (Buffaloes) and Zesco's Dauti Musekwa.

Benson Sakala (Power), Mwape Mwelwa, Cletus Chota (Zesco), Spencer Sautu, (Eagles), Jack Chirwa (Buffaloes) and the Zanaco pair of Isaac Chansa and Salulani Phiri are the midfielders.

The strikers are Christopher Katongo, Conlyde Luchanga (Dynamos), Adamson Mulao (Eagles) and Patson Daka (Power).