The recent embarrassing performance of the ‘Cosafa Cup bound’ squad during their North Africa tour has brought public scrutiny again.
Numba Mumba’s side lost 3-0 to Kuwait in Egypt before another 3-1 loss to a Morocco Under-23 within a space of a week.
In contrast Avram Grant’s Zambia recorded an emphatic 3-0 win over Ivory Coast at home.
Immediately after the squad was announced there was public outcry with the selection of about two-thirds of the players.
Concerns were raised if the national team selectors (FAZ Technical Director, Technical Committee chaired by the FAZ Veep & FAZ CEO) do watch the local league or actually do pick players on merit.
There were also questions if coach Numba Mumamba and his assistants Masauso Tembo and Mwenya Chipepo picked the players.
Following the embarrassment by the Zambia B side in North Africa, fans are back again with their concerns.
Instead of just directing their frustrations at FAZ, some fans are coming up with solutions.
Browsing through social media, there are suggestions that FAZ should send a developmental squad for next month’s Cosafa Cup .
Under age team
Let FAZ pick the best four players from each age group [ U17, U20 and U23 ] and constitute a proper Cosafa Cup squad.
With 10-12 players coming from a combined under age side then the remaining 6-8 players should be sourced from Avram Grant’s AFCON squad.
Then the likes of Allan Chibwe, George Ngoma, Lazarous Kambole, Aaron Katebe, Kebson Kamanga, Gideon Sichone, Jack Chirwa and Luka Banda can pave way.
Skeleton for illustration
Under-17: Emmanuel Mwanza, Sekanji Siame, [add two other players ]
Under-20: Miguel Chaiwa, Gift Mphande, Jeban Tembo [Add two players]
Under-23: Golden Mafweta, Mathews Chabala, Shapy Chikondi,
AFCON Squad fringe players: Lawrence Mulenga, Victor Chabu, Francisco Mwepu, Patson
Others: Friedrick Mwimanzi, Owen Tembo
Youngsters: Bonaphesio Phiri, Robert Banda
Old Guard: Benedict Chepeshi, Kelvin Kapumbu, Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba, Dominic Chanda – leave them out of the Cosafa squad.
I agree with the funs to some extent but I doubt the team will win the Cosafa Cup with those U23, u20 and u17 players that failed to impress at the afcon u 20 and u 17 or even qualify for the u 23 afcon.