Zambia national team head coach Aljosa Asanovic has called on Chipolopolo fans to exercise patience with him and the team.
Asanovic told the ZamFoot Crew in an interview after Tuesday’s training session at the National Heroes Stadium that he knows the fans are eager for results but they won’t come overnight.
The Croatian went on to reiterate his earlier statement that the Chipolopolo Boys will go to the 2023 AFCON.
The Copper Bullets last qualified to the continental showpiece in 2015 under now Namungo boss Honor Janza.
“I know the fans are waiting for the results but they have to understand that the results are not coming just on one day or two days.
“But what I said when I came here is that we are going to AFCON,” the Croatian said
“Maybe am so optimistic because when I see my players on the pitch who are also playing in Europe am not scared I just respect everybody but I know my players very well,” he said.
“I won’t deceive the people I said they are my players but of course in football sometimes you lose its normal but how you lose which way, you must also understand that some players are coming for the first time together.”
Asanovic also went on to confirm that atleast seven foreign based players for the Guinea game that will take place in France on 29th March.
“Discipline means many things including small details of the game, professional players everywhere in Europe so when I talk of discipline i be on time even the Zambian league players don’t talk on the pitch, I mean communication with the players on the pitch and off the pitch and discipline means many things,” he said.
“Finally I know the people who are coming from Europe. We have a couple of guys who will be part of the game and minimum of seven players and two more players from foreign emperors and we will see and I can’t mention the names,” he added.
Zambia will face 2007 AFC Asian Cup Champions, Iraq on Friday a match which will be played outside the FIFA window and will feature an exclusive assemblage of local players that the coach wants to refine with his focus also on the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers set for June/July.
Some of the local players who will impress against Iraq will be part of the two planned international friendly matches (On FIFA window) that includes a confirmed fixture against Guinea on March 29 in France.
Foreign based players will join in for the two matches during the FIFA window (Guinea and a yet to be confirmed opponent).
Asanovic is using the FIFA window to prepare for the June round of the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
