A confident Zambia U17 national team this afternoon left Niger to participate in the 2015 CAF Africa U17 tournament.
The team left aboard an Ethiopian Airways flightand will make a stop over in Ethiopia before proceeding to Niamey tomorrow.
Captain Patson Daka stated that this is the time his team has been waiting for.
“The team is ready we are very much geared for the tournament. We have been waiting for this time finally it has come so everyone is focused and we are ready to do it for the country,” Daka said before departure.
Team coach Chris Kaunda stated that despite this being the debut appearance for the Zambia U17 at the African soccer show piece, his team would not be intimidated by names.
Kaunda said: “At the end of the day we are all debutants there, there is nothing like we have been there before or we have won this [tournament] before… unless they are not under 17.”
The Zambian lads who made history by qualifying for the tournament for the first time will only have Saturday to shake off the jet lag before they take on Guinea on Sunday.
Full Squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Daniel Sikanyika (Damiano Academy), Jackson Kakunta (Kabwata Dynamos), Albert Mwanza (Lumwana Radiants)
DEFENDERS: Prosper Chiluya (OYDC), Salati Lungu (Sable Bulls), Wayne Museba (Premium Sports), Gift Sikaonga (Nchanga Rangers), Edward Chimfwembe (Zesco Victoria Falls), Stephen Chulu (Kabwe Youth Sports Academy), Alfred Chirwa (Intersport)
MIDFIELDERS: Victor Chungu (Lusaka Youth Academy), Musonda Siame (Kafue Celtics), Edwin Chipile (Zesco Malaiti Rangers), Ngosa Sunzu (Lusaka Youth Academy), Enock Mwepu (Kafue Celtic), Garry Mwelwa (Gomes), Mwansa Mwila (Prison Leopards)
STRIKERS: Pumulo Siwanga (Chirundu United), Patson Daka (Nchanga Rangers), Kenny Sinkala (Dee Jays), Peter Nyirenda (Zesco Kabwe)
A flying start is the secret ,hummer guinea good and you are course.Team work is the key as you know by now that Zambia lost to Tunisia in the AFCON Becos every all our strikers wanted to get on the score sheet ,going for personal glory at the expense of the team…TEAM WORK bane!
Beat guinea and you are on course and play as a team so you achieve the common goal as a team not being selfish and wasting chances that would otherwise need a tap to be a goal.
In short allow the best positioned player to score than trying from impossible angles Becos of hunger for personal glory.
Thank God We now have the proper U17 unlike in the past when We used to have only K stars players,no wonder We failed to reach the finals. Hope the same spirit will spew over to the senior team, PROPER TEAM SELECTION.
is that so, kalu’s team?