I won’t say we going to win the Cup but we want to compete – Sichone 

Chipolopolo Boys head coach Moses Sichone says the team will not focus on winning the Africa Cup of Nations but on competing at the continental showpiece. 

Sichone who was speaking to journalists after Tuesday’s training session at UNILUS School Ground said he wants the team to compete and see how well they play all the games. 

“For us, we want the players who are ready to fight for the country and also to know why we are going there. I won’t say that we are going to win the Cup, but I would say we want to compete and see how we play all the games,” he said. 

“Yeah so far so good. We started here two weeks ago and I like the progress and that’s why also you know we’ve tried to to change the training also we know we don’t have much time but so far I would just say yeah we’re seeing positive things from the team and the guys they are receiving whatever that we we are telling them positively.”

“It’s just unfortunate that we won’t have all the foreign based players ,you know, in a good time. We actually wanted to utilize having everyone on board. But yeah, I have to speak to the technical director knowing when everybody will be arriving in Spain. I only know about Kings (Kangwa)  and Lubambo Musonda, so I personally talked to them. They will be released on the 14th. So we are planning to have everyone on board so that at least we do the final preparation,” he added. 

Sichone has asked the fans to support the team as it has a blend of experience and young players. He is also aware that critics will be there as expectations are very high among Zambians. 

“Like I said yesterday, we are trying our level best to prepare the team and not only go there to participate, but to go and compete. And I know the expectations are high from all Zambians. We have a team that includes young players. So these players here and the experienced players also need support. And it won’t do well, of course, we expect there will be critics. So it’s part of football. So I can only say the team needs support as much as every Zambian can show some love to this team,” he said. 

Sichone says he had to have a one on one talk with players who have been dropped to encourage them to keep working hard. 

“It’s always a difficult thing, you know, the emotions also, you know, because every player that we called expected to be a part of the final team. But we cannot keep everyone, so I had to find time to speak to the individuals and also, you know, to encourage the guys. This is not the end of their career, so they just need to continue working hard,” he said. 

On the readiness of the team, Sichone said: “That I don’t say much, that’s why you saw, you know, training we have adjusted a bit and of course on that question I can only say much after our Spain camp.”

The former Chipolopolo defender says the team will take every game seriously as all three opponents have good teams.

“For me, we are taking every opponent so seriously. We know Malians are there, they’ve got a good team, Comoros too, and not to talk about Morocco. So for us, the most important thing is we are preparing the guys mentally and also physically to take all these three games seriously and see the outcome,” he said.

Zambia will have a pre AFCON camp in Spain and could face the  Leopards of DR Congo and the Elephants of Ivory Coast in preparatory matches. 

Zambia is in Group A together with Mali, Comoros and hosts Morocco.