Wedson Nyirenda says national team skipper Rainford Kalaba will be disciplined ahead of next month’s 2018 Russia World Cup
qualifier against Algeria.
The Chipolopolo will host Algeria on September 2 before facing the North Africans three days later in Constantine.
Kalaba went straight to the dressing room after being substituted in the second half of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique that Zambia lost 1-0 in Ndola.
He was withdrawn for midfielder Given Singuluma.
Nyirenda said at a briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Kalaba will be sanctioned.
“We are going to discipline Rainford Kalaba. We are running an institution and discipline is non-negotiable,” Nyirenda said.
On whether Kalaba will be omitted from the squad that will face Algeria,
Nyirenda said: “You will see the team list.”
“Destitution in Zambian football is because of the way we were handled by some coaches. We were not given good direction by some coaches. I am not going to have a soft hand on matters that will ruin them down, that will break their future, then I am a bad parent,” he said.
Nyirenda also commented on the omission of Lusaka Dynamos midfielders Fwayo Tembo and Cletus Chama.
“Let me go to the genesis of it on Fwayo first. He asked for permission to be exempted from the friendly against South Africa. He said he was going to Turkey. He was supposed to leave on the same day on Saturday but he told them [his handlers] that he wanted to play the game against Mozambique.
“So I told him, would you please tell your people that you have a game on Tuesday against South Africa, and he was the captain of the local team in case people have forgotten. We advised him to travel with us to South Africa before going to Europe. We agreed and he even played for Power Dynamos the following day,” Nyirenda said.
He was, however, surprised that Fwayo and defender Billy Mutale shunned camp.
“When I called their manager [Lombe Chipupu], he said he had given them transport money. The other power players came but Fwayo and Mutale did not report. We travelled to South Africa after we roped in some players like Webster Mulenga from Red Arrows and we won 2-1, which everyone did not expect because they were looking for a loss so that they could crucify Wedson Nyirenda,” Nyirenda said.
He said he is still waiting for Fwayo’s explanation.
“For Cletus, he apologised after the game. He did not know what he did was wrong. He is a child. I told him that I forgave him before he even did that. I asked him a question, who I am not to forgive? I have wronged people, I have made mistakes, and people have forgiven me.
“So I have forgiven him. I see talent in him [Chama] which cannot go to waste. I don’t want to be the coach who will contribute to his downfall. We will sit him down about direction in football. We have seen world-class stars who have fallen out of favour despite what they have done,” he said.
Chama walked straight to the dressing room after being withdrawn during the 2018 Kenya Africa Nations Championship first round return leg against Swaziland which Zambia won 3-0 in Lusaka.
Source: Daily Mail
RAINFORD KALABA & CLATOUS CHOTA CHAMA DESERVES A PUNISHMENT, FWAYO’S case sounds not to deserve punishment; just talk to him! Unless COACH has a problem himself! HE DESERVES TO REST ONE CAN’T PLAY 3GAMES IN THREE DAYS?
THIS COACH WILL A ” BABY CRY “!!!!!
Fwayo’s behaviour has been the same as what He did, so my opinion would be he needs to be shown discipline if he is to go forward otherwise leave him if he is stubborn. On this one I will support Wada Chipolopolo players need discipline if we are to go forward because soccer is all about assimilation of instructions from the Coach.
Fwayo equally needs to be disciplined, in my view fwayo’s case is even worse than the other two gentlemen because there was a gentleman’s agreement that he (fwayo) would play against south Africa but he went back on his word I would have excused him if he had made an effort to even call the coach that he was unable to travel for south africa game moreover he had even been given transport money to link up with the rest of the team…we need to hear his side of the story but he won’t escape punishment
Is Woodlands stadium big enough for this Ethiopia Freindly ?
It small but for this kind of game I think its ok. The turn out has been poor for senior chipolopolo games just look at the Mozambique one…people are not so keen anymore I could be wrong but i think that was part of the reason for playing at woodlands
WHATEVER WEDSON NYIRENDA IS DOING IT’S CORRECT; IT SEEMS HE DON’T NEED A REMOTE CONTROL! ANY WRONG OR CORRECT DECISION BY A COACH IS OKAY BECAUSE…………..!!!!!
I’m disappointed with some players like kalaba,fwayo and chama these boys seem to be stupid and deserve punishment if they continue on this, they need to be removed from playing for national team especially kalaba.Kalaba chilufya and Emmanuel banda are knocking on your door buy seeds and hoe.
MISBEHAVIOR IN OUR FOOTBALL : I should say there’s a wrong trend going on in Zambian football; if left unchecked it will trigger more problems & I conquer with my colleagues @Soccerguru, @Jason & @Anita who posted and said there’s is a lot of indiscipline our game ! The same thing that the so called Captain Rainford Kalaba did when he was substituted & You let him go unpunished; What do you think other players could be doing? Is to emulate the captain!!! The punishment should start with KALABA first!!! When blaming triple ” C” also rebuke KALABA who started it! DON’T CALL INDISPLINE KALABA TO THE SQUAD & KA CHAMA OUT 50:50 ! DISCIPLINE IS CARDINAL IN FOOTBALL!!! I feel I can contribute as 1000 times as I can because we want things to be in order and the Coach not to be too personal with things!!!! Pesperctitively the Coach might be right!
Wada should stop being emotionally immature and stop playing fire for fire or rather an eye for an eye with young players. As a national coach he should learn to stomach such ugly circumstances..maybe he does understand what the term COACH means. Prompt punishments is not the best solutions. You lose nothing by just talking to these young boys. Let Fwayo and Chama enjoy their game….!!!!
Let’s call a spade a spade; FWAYO is a good player! Roberto Minchin used to quarrel with Mario Baloteli and never dropped Mario Baloteli for misbehavior ! Because he was looking for results! It was via the same Mario that contributed for Manchester City’s premier league trophy!
Where is Baloteli?
If this guy was a school teacher he would be one of those prehistoric thinkers who think corporal punishment is still the best way to straighten out kids.
Some of these boys have been playing soccer for many years under different coaches so ask yourself why is it when Kalaba was coached by Patrice Carteron at TP Mazembe and Herve Renard at the national team he never showed such behavior. Is it that maybe because you yourself Wada, the way you carry yourself and your approach attracts ill discipline!!
As a fan and not having heard both sides of the story I will play devils advocate. If Kalaba tells me why he did what he did only then will I make a judgement call whether he was wrong or right. Taking issues like this to the press, basically denigrating your own players in public is probably the ultimate dumbest form of leadership. How is this going to mend any rift you the coach has with some of the players. Dressing room harmony is generated by the coach. It is childish, a lack of leadership and insecurity that makes you think that just because you have a platform with the press you can use it to talk down your own players. Deal with these issues in-house. Even discipline should be done in-house. Just because the fans are calling you out on the poor performances you want to divert and make it about the players in public.
Big Steve i always follow u wit your comments on football but i think you you forgot to mention that most of these player behave like this because non respect a local coach to honest, they respect white man because their package given.secondly u forgot is FANS ive been talking about discipline regarding Kalaba who did like CC then went unpunished, on such matter how do you react to such coz FANS are still talking about equal discipline regardless your status in the team….remember nation team is an Institution.
True Gaddafi, lets be fair. Big Steve, Kalaba is out of sorts as captain. Shoes too big i think !
In my pointment of view I see trouble for Wedson. In soccer players play for each other and the coach. The moment the coach starts differing with his players then his days are number and a good example is Jose maurinio “igore my spelling” with the immaturity exhibited by our coach forget about any success for chipololo as long as Wedson is in charge. Displine as a good parent is internal matter not for public.you don’t discuss displine in the media. This shows that the coach himself lucks displine.history has it Herve Renard had some issues at Mbombela in 2013 Afcon that he did not go public about. When similar situation tried to happen with Herve Renard in 2012 he displined the players before the media got wind of it. Never played soccer before but played other sport displine. The captain carries the mandate of the coach. As a result the coach and the captain are suppose to be on the same page. From what I am seeing from brother Wedson he is not on the same page with Kalaba and this should be a concern for every zambian loving soccer fan. Christopher Katongo were a solid team. He delivered Herve Renard commands like a true soldier he is. This Kalaba and Wedson Nyirenda won’t work. And FAZ keep this man away from the under 20
Gaddafi…! Ye ‘re right & some of these things ‘re better left the way they ‘re mweeeeeeeeee
@BIG STEVE, You are right! A REAL soccer fan always speaks the truth! I don’t see this Coach taking the Zambia National Team to any of the important tournaments neither Africa nor World Cup finals! On this one Mark my words! Us as soccer fans as @CHINTHU CHINTHU UMWENE said “we don’t eat excuses! All we want is results!” I think we should avoid a room for pretence here ! Kudos @BIG STEVE SA!
YES! @JOHN JAMES ! SURELY HE HAS NEVER WON ANY SERIOUS GAME WHETHER AT HOME OR AWAY! INSTEAD HE HAS KEPT ON FIGHTING AGAINST THE PLAYERS & BRING DISORDER IN THE TEAM! TO WIN MATCHES IT TAKES GOOD COORDINATION OF COACH & PLAYERS! THESE FOOTBALLERS PLAY FOR EACH OTHER! I FEEL THAT I CAN ASK FAZ WHY ALLOWING THIS WADA WADA TO KEEP FIGHTING PLAYERS INSTEAD OF BRINGING THEM TOGETHER & KEEP WINNING THE SERIOUS MATCHES? THE COACH IS THE PROBLEM HERE BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR SEEN A ZAMBIAN PLAYER GOES STRAIGHT TO THE DRESSING ROOM AFTER BEING SUBSTITUTED; PROTESTING! WE DON’T NEED FOOTPOLITICS WITH PLAYERS! LET’S GIVE THIS JOB TO CHAMBESHI.
I don’t think the players are in the wrong here. Coach has an inferiority complex he can’t professionally handle his team. Don’t hide your lack of man management by saying you are parenting. Kalaba is an African national champion, African club back to back champion which heights are you saying he want him to achieve? You can’t qualify to world cup. You had two months to go to Lubumbashi and talk to Kalaba if you truly wanted to play the parent here. Fwayo and Chama are perhaps indisciplined for Kalaba he’s star shines.