Chris Katongo sent packing from Chipolopolo camp

Oh dear. Maybe with Chris’ axing, we might see peace and order in the camp. The other guys will be free to express themselves both on the pitch and in camp. To me if this is in the interest of the team, so be it. The other veterans also needs to be axed, e.g. Chamanga and Jacob Mulenga.

Why ?

In a critical time like this there should be no fighting and everything should discussed properelly. There is not one player or person in all Zambia who has more ability and experience to qualify Zambia to African Cup then Chris Katongo.

Maybe he was out of line, but Janza will have live the consequences.

Only players who a regular in their team, only players scoring goals and everything. These absolute rules don’t always work in Zambia some times the better player for his country is the one who has been sitting on bench at his club. These absolutes wont always work, we have had to break them many times. We’ve seen success by doing so and we have also seen some failures but Zambia has to break the rules sometimes.

For Janza its like this, there is no room for experiments, we had HR and then PB to try and fix things and after along period things were finally being fixed and then PB left. Janza was also there the whole time, what was he doing, that was only a few months ago. Point is this Janza must run some of the practices and philosophy of PB because that is what the team was taught. Its far too late for him to try impose anything else.

Ndeloleshafye!

this is bad for janza i noticed the absence of katongo affected our team ,ba janza did not select the team properly katongo bring experience in the team so if katongo does not play i see us losing the next if the same team that played on Saturday

Hope they resolved……thats my wish but the coach knows better than me and some of us bloggers…hope we beat Niger on wednesday.

katongo is too arrogant for someone who plies his trade in China second division, oh well this is a sort of thing that happens when a nation praises mediocrity.

if i was katongo i would do the same, how do you put katongo ,jacob ,mayuka and fwayo tembo on the bench in a critical game like the Niger game and put inexperienced one who did not add value to the team in the last game

No,Janza cant just send away Chris like that, no matter what, they coud have resolved any problem with respect o each other. i dont support this, this is so bad, Chris is not just a player but someone that will definetly help the national team at the admin level, he is so charming and determind, he should be treated well with respect.

Too bad 4 our captain. Maybe he insulted the coach 4 benching him.
It will be nice to see Sunzu back in the team. Now that Nyambe Mulenga has improved, Niger wont be able to break our defence.

Too bad!

But the Niger game left alot of question marks on the reasoning of the coach maybe not only in the minds of the fans but also on the minds of the players.

It doesnt take one to be a Rocket Scientist for them to read that; those players who featured and suffered the humiliation of drawing and losing to Mozambique and Capo verde respectively were likely to have more hunger and understanding of how important the Niger Game was and that it was only fair and wise taking into account the circumstances under which they lost to capo verde (late arrival), to give them (Katongo, Mayuka, Jacob) chance to prove their worth in Niger than starting with players (chamanga, Zulu, Singuluma) who were adapting to each other and that since it was their first game (Chamanga and Zulu) they have a reason not to be accountable for any negative outcome (but the players who started the qualifiers.

For this reason Katongo has every reason to be agrieved especially going by his performance against Capo verde ( he had shown a sense of urgency and leadership and it was shocking to see him and mayuka on the bench, the latter had even scored 4 goals in a friendly).

However, no one is above the team and that new players should alway be called especially if they are adding value like Alex ngonga and Patrick Ngoma for me can bring in alot of fire power NOT CHAMANGA TWAKANA!

Amen!!

If you can’t retire on your own sometimes you retire unceremoniously. Janza you are next!!!!

I think we need to miss out on afcon 2015 so we can organise ourselves. Just thinking. I don’t think even if we are to qualify, we will ever do anything there. Zambian needs re-organisation. Employ a qualified and experienced coach and fuse in new and young players and retire all the tired veterans. If by any chance we qualify for afcon 2015, we need to use the tournament as a rebuilding process. Zambia should follow the model of Bafana Bafana. Players like Lubambo, Evans Kangwa, Mukuka Mulenga, and some U-20 players are the one who should have taken the mantles from Chamanga, Jacob etc.

@chiefsokafan well said. Chamanga should be sent to a retirement home.

Wrong Move ba Janza

What do you honestly want to prove that Chris is a failure? No No NO NOT at this time when we want unity in the team, then you send others away for what ever reasons, lean to be a leader and all the times have the interest of the Nation and Team at Heart. I wish the National team well and all the best. Remember that money you are using is Tax Payers!!!!!!

@Chiefsokaman, good analysis. Keep it up bro.

Ian sure Chris katongo told janza the truth that he is a useless coach that y he was sent packing.

You dnt just send out a captain packing.that’s the problem of putting failures to run a big thing like national team.u can see the fear on janza’s face when zambia is playing.now there will certainly be devision in the team coz katongo is the most deciplined player and the most commited.will see who is a fool on wednesday.

These are the last kicks of a dying horse in that PATHETIC Honour Janza. His short time with the team is coming to an end. Christopher Katongo brings experience in the team in as much as people might try to criticize him and call him names. JANZA has to go. He is inept and has no heart what so ever for the team.

Janza should not blame Chris for his failure to read the game, especially the game against Niger which we gave away two vital points. That game was lost on account of purely wrong tactical (if there was any tact at all). The coach was ball watching till the last 15 minutes or so when he made some gambled substitutions. The team aimlessly passed the ball around like a team that was leading and just killing time. After changing the complexion of the Cabo Verde v Zambia after coming in, I am surprised he has decided to send packing a player like Chris. At a crucial stage like where we are, we need to have a reconciliatory spirit and whatever misunderstandings may have occurred between the coach and the player could have been resolved for mother Zambia’s sake. Fine HR may have sent away Clifford and still won the Afcon 2012 but this time around, this will surely work against the team. I don’t think senior players like Jacob, Kennedy, Chamanga, Nyambe Mulenga are happy to be captained by young Sinkala. It is like we are doing everything wrong. BYE BYE TO MOROCCO 2015.

Bolazambia.com reports that Katongo made coments on the poor tactics of Janza in the Niger game as they were on the plane coming to Ndola. Katongo said as far as he is concerned, he never played in that match as he could not help in 5 minutes.
Janza should be fired hes a crap coach. how can u collect 2 points from a possible 9 among weaker teams? PB would have done better than this.

I will post my comments after getting the facts because what ZAMFOOT has done is just stir the nest without any facts to the story.

However, if its true then its unfortunate because Janza needs all the fire power and experience he can get to negotiate himself to Morocco 2015. And well, let me wait for the facts to come out…….

I don’t normally agree with @Kay Hammer but on Janza from the start we have been on the same side. @Rok you are spot on.

Thanks Guyz! But the point is that for Katongo, Jacob, Mayuka and Fwayo, the dream and the honey moon that comes with playing for the national team had come to end after the loss to Capo verde and that what was next for them was go back to real work (But were not given the Opportunity to make ammends by Janza).

On the other hand, it was time for a dream come true and honey moon to return and play for the national team for Chamanga and Zulu respectively and they could not even realise that Niger had gone to sleep and were at their mercy; which Mayuka, Fwayo and Katongo could have realised and punished the Niger team comparing the level of opposition they faced in Mozambique and capo verde.

Zambia national team needs a renewal.

Janza obviously has no idea what he is doing….Chris Katongo was right to speak out at his rubbish tactics ….Janza will be fired on Wednesday. …Chris played very well in the midfield when he came on against Cape Verde…why didn’t Janza play him in the midfield again…I am very disappointed with this development….Janza should go

no if chris the captain cannot be with the team, what is chintu doing on the technical bench? what is his qualification? chisungu?

What is experience without ability? Janza, you have done the right thing for the first time. On the other hand, thank you Mr. Katongo for the services you rendered to mother Zambia and please go and enjoy your retirement from international soccer in peace. Now, its game on for the young players who want to make a name for themselves. Prove your wealth lads

I agree with Billy, maybe when we miss out will learn a lesson of our life.Nevertheless I have a strong feeling come wednesday chipolopolo will be second of that group.

One thing Guys YOU are missing is that’ DIS’ HONOR JANZA is representing and implementing FAZ decisions. There is an hidden hand influencing what He is doing. wait and see. The best thing is for ZAMBIA TO CHANGE THE TEAM. ITS TIME FOR CHICKEN GEORGE AND HIS U23 TAKES OVER THE SENIOR TEAM.

Jesus made people see,the crippled walked and they killed him .same has happened to chris,I think the team need him more than cha manga,jacob.

poor decision making by this man called Janza…..psychology will be at play now….it may just backfire on us ….this should have been done AFTER the match on Wednesday…..!…janza has just messed up everything now.
.the class of 2012 may just revolt ka!

Akwasi appiah is a good coach and can help! Y’all need to send an s.o.s for him come help u! Lol!

He knows how to beat Niger as he demolished them by 3 goals to nothing in south Africa and he can easily slot in to help u to take all the three points!!

Up Niger!! Zambia is your mate and come pack the bus on Wednesday!!!

Zambia ll watch the good for nothing afcon on TV!!

The Coach is asserting himself on the team. No player is indispensable. Gentlemen we will win convincingly without Katongo. Like at @Billy says they will be freedom in the team. Katongo had “grown too big” for the team like Etoo had at one time for Cameroon. Both these players have done wonders for their country in the past but there is a time to move on.

Good move , i’m with Coach Janza on this one though i don’t agree with is tactics and his coaching philosophy.

Welcome Niger and as usual, pack thr bus for the first 20 mins and they ll revert back to their normal play, rushing for goal with every player on the field!!

U can then hit them on the quick counter like Sudan did in the WC qualifiers!!

the same pepo that called for katongo’s exit r now condemning his removal. zambians awe sure

u wanted him to go. so there u r, he. is gone

Headlines after the match on Wednesday would be: Katongo goes away with goals as Zambia is held by Niger. We are chasing a man with scoring boots.

CHRIS IS SAID TO HAVE CHALLENGED THE WRONG TACTICS all these are tell tell signs that JANZA doesn’t know what he is doing FAZ FIRE JANZA plizzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Yes yes I am happy ! Very excited and guess what we are winning because the coach has taken a board dicision bravo Janza. I know we few who can see it , now ba Coach please show the door to other veterans since 2002 they are still playing in expense of young player like Lubambo Musonda who scored a crack of a goal against Japan , Sate Sate , Mwanza Jackson and other local players . South Africa league depend mostly on foreign player but SAFA boardly appoint a local coach and the coach got rid of old players . Just look at SA how they are doing in qualifiers ! Here its a different story ati we need experience . Experience has failed in three matches. Please ova hole the whole team am tired watching same player I watch 2002 until this time shame on you FAZ who has no plan and a road map the national team . Briaaaaaaaaaaaaan Mwaaaaaallllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeee TV2 news in Mansa

Hard to comment without knowing the full story.

@Rok – Beaumelle started this vice captain Sinkala/Sunzu stuff. I also thought that was a blunder on his part.

Sad indeed.

I think Janza is wrong to tell Chris Katongo to park his bag. What ever the case might be, Janza should have acted professional he has definitely over reacted. For Chris its not gud also to disrespect the coach in any way.its like Janza has had enough fights over Katongo sometimes respect is paramount at work. Its only people in leadership who suffer as absorbing shocks

Guys let’s not be quick to condemn Janza,let’s ask why did PB strip chris off th armband? We all hv bn dying to see these old guns replaced…..let’s not also forget wen Evans kangwa scored a brace against uganda,wat did Chris utter? We all hv not forgotten…..for me he breaks th team spirit aand its for th beta

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals
MF Christopher Katongo (Captain) 31 August 1982 (age 32) 89 21
FW Collins Mbesuma 3 February 1984 (age 30) 48 18
FW James Chamanga 2 February 1980 (age 34) 58 16
FW Jacob Mulenga 12 Feb 1984 (age 30) 44 11
MF Rainford Kalaba 14 August 1986 (age 28) 74 10
FW Emmanuel Mayuka 21 Nov 1990 (age 23) 50 10
MF Felix Katongo 18 April 1984 (age 30) 63 5
FW Festus Mbewe 1 June 1988 (age 26) 15 5
FW Given Singuluma 11 July 1986 (age 28) 22 4
DF Stoppila Sunzu 22 June 1989 (age 25) 46 3
FW Evans Kangwa 21 June 1994 (age 20) 6 3
MF Bruce Musakanya 25 Sept 1993 (age 21) 11 3
FW Ronald Kampamba 28 Dec 1991 (age 22) 9 3
FW Bornwell Mwape 30 Sept 1991 (age 23) 13 3
FW Rodgers Kola 4 July 1989 (age 25) 17 2
DF Hijani Himoonde 15 June 1985 (age 29) 40 2
DF Jimmy Chisenga 3 April 1992 (age 22) 28 2
MF Noah Chivuta 25 Dec 1983 (age 30) 29 2
MF Mukuka Mulenga 6 July 1993 (age 21) 16 1
MF Isaac Chansa 23 March 1984 (age 30) 57 1
MF Kennedy Mudenda 13 January 1988 (age 26) 24 1
MF Lubambo Musonda Dec 1995 (age 19) 1 1
FW Jonas Sakuwaha 22 July 1983 (age 31) 22 1
FW Moses Phiri 3 June 1993 (age 21) 8 1
FW Alex Ng’onga 21 August 1992 (age 22) 11 1
GK Kennedy Mweene (Vice-captain)12 Nov 1984 (age 29) 86 1
DF Kabaso Chongo 11 Feb 1992 (age 22) 17 1
MF Fwayo Tembo 2 May 1989 (age 25) 18 1
MF Kennedy Mudenda 13 January 1988 (age 26) 24 1
FW Reynold Kampamba 20 February 1994 (age 20) 1 0

Respect is very important n there is no permanent players in the national team n wen u are wrong u are wrong u need to b disciplined

Let us wait and see what the team can do with Katongo being in the stands watching as a spectator.

@hahahahahah, Gaddafi we know its u selfmade. I asked u on GSN if u have resolved your erection problems but u went mute.

Guess I’ve seen this really late, but I can’t help but say something regardless. My instinct tells me that Chris couldn’t have been acting alone in whatever he did or said. This then just confirms my suspicions that there are divisions in the camp.
Hard to comment objectively without facts though. I’m one of those who was against the appointment of Janza from the word go. Yes, no player is bigger than the team, but on several occassions Chris, against all the odds against him (age, calibre of his club, and the numerous critics) has easily been heads and shoulders above the rest. He may no longer be a 90 min player, but i think this decision is just a case of a desperate coach trying to show who’s boss. Win, lose or draw on Wednesday, Janza must be fired. Two from a possible nine points, in arguably the easiest group, is nothing less than a disgrace. Herein we see the fruits of mediocrity.

Yaba bazambia. Advice can only be given to someone ad its up to him to acept or deny da advice. I think we have been inactive as zambians for some time. We should take action aganist faz for hiring janza ad we should also blame ourselves for requesting for a local. Please Mr janza also pack your bags ad leave th team. I was one of them who defended u da we gave u more time to prove yourself but from da niger game I now agree da u can’t read th game at all ad its for this reason da I say to u please go. Bye afcon 2015 see u in 2017.

There we go again “waiting for moderation”. Lord help us

@mumbi. hahahahaha!!!!!!

According to FAZ, Janza decided to release players who did not make it to the last 18,in order to eliminate negative energy that might emanate from players in order to bring unity .My question is how many have been released apart from Katongo? Janza, who does he think he is? Chris has done a lot for that team, the platform he has used is wrong.why did he call Katongo in the first place? Janza you should not take your own issue with Chris to our team.

Janza was an ok appointment, given that he was in the technical team all along and the time frame Faz has been working. Thats what i think unlike brother ROk who has an also valid and different view.

But the big problem is Janza comes and starts to impose all his own thoughts and ways of working when he should have just caried on what PB was driving at and not distabalizing the team. There is no time to bring in new players earning their first cap in important qualifying matches. When was the last time Chamaga started? This is crazy stuff. These are signs of insecurity on his part and it has now further distabalised the team. The team he feilded against Sudan was completly different from the team that played Mozambique…

If you are Janza and Chris Katongo comes to say some truths to you, you listen. No Chris Katongo is not bigger than the team, but Janza even though hes the head honcho is not either. Its Janza who should stop pretending to be the big man and start thinking practically and working practically with players and captain to solve this mess.

Its like Janza is trying to prove something, but he doesn’t need to. The players are there, they have experience, the youth and everything we need except time for experiments. Just create the environment and point the direction and they will do the rest.

Fact of the matter is since Renard resigned, Zambia has had no coach who is employable outside of Zambia! The minister of sports should take a leaf from the Roger Milla sorry whereby the coach and players detested Milla’s character but the lobbying of the fans, minister of sport followed by the president Paul Biya, put Milla on the ticket. Michael Jordan had similar problems, fought with Steve Kurr in training and and was pushy with Bill Cartwright until Bill threatened to sort him out! Good players tend to have intense characters! scoring at international level requires experience and talent. ’82 Maradona was best player in the world but how many goals did he score in that world cup? The same applies to Messi, Roanaldo, C. Ronaldo, Rooney and others. The golden boot is normally won by older experienced players such as Paulo Rossi, Klose. Zambia needs C. Katongo and a player with the penalty area link play abilities of Isaac Chansa.

Zambian football big issues

Kaya

Wrong timing. It is not the right time to send the captain away. Unless he was extremely inimical to the interests of the team. Whatever differences were there should have been diplomatically handled not in this manner at a time we require unity from everyone. Remember Chris still has big influence in the team despite his dipping form.

Sir Shakes Mashaba and his new look Bafana Bafana Hv got 7 Pts out of a possible 9 . Another 3 Pts against Congo in SA tomorrow will ensure qualification leaving us doing the Maths for our team on our calculators.However save your batteries if we get another draw.

Guys, until we hear the full story it would be premature to blame Janza or Katongo. If this was a disagreement on tactics, then the Captain should have a forum to discuss this with the coach in a professional setting or manner. Anyway, it is what it is.

STING the little we have seen of JANZAs football its very clear he has no idea what he is doing and if we mantain him he will finish everything left of our football just look at all these negative developments in such short period of time

Alcon 2015 here we come.

Too bad my captain you will be missed you were there during the happiest moments in Zambian football.having said that I don’t think the man is up to the task the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak planning ahead is all that is important we must not be afraid of change am sure someone will up his game and take over, one other thing is our team larks a special game changer eg a dead ball specialist or someone to provide that magic moment .
So janza might be the agent of change that the chipolopolo needs though he seems not to know what he is doing. Afcon or no afcon the team must improve.

Come Wednesday, we will either be in it or we will have to wait till the bitter end.

the best thint janza can do is to step aside wether Zambia wins on.Wednsday

it will be very disappointing for zambia and janza to lose this game at home.So let janza use players tha can make the nation to be happy or else he will be chased together with the so called kalusha bwalya.

its for changes let Janza try da other players ,let him be active we need mayuka play this wednesday

we just need a win and qualify to AFCON ,use sharp legs in front

Katongo sneaked a girl friend in camp, he told her to book a room on the hotel national team was camping then at night he went and spend a night in her room. What a captain, iam sure this was not a first time. We need Mweene as captain.

Gode that’s good news , now if this is true to those supporting Katongo and cursing Janza please please ceasefire and let’s support the team we can’t allow such things to be happening no wonder these guys don’t perform to our expect ions . Kudya sitilesa manje kadyeledwe

You people can you see what I can see? Which fresh legs are you talking about, do the fresh legs have what it takes to play on the international stage? If we do elimination method, which department is defiant? I would see Strikers and Midfielders. Our game is to slow hence we don’t pose any danger to the opponent,this is why Chris and Janza are on loggerheads.Janza tactics are not working, 2draws one loss. Katongo has a point only that Janza has pride and the approach for Chris could be wrong.

im just staring at my calculator…….anyway lets try and be positive…

The news is everywhere ready todays post newspapers the girl her self confest that they slept together, a captain should be displine and read by example. Especially this time when we need to put in every thing that we have to go to afcom2015, what a shame, I wonder what his wife and kids are feeling right now.