Zambia national team head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has explained why he decided to drop striker Obrey Chirwa and midfielder Clatous Chota Chama after they allegedly missed their flights to Zambia to report for national duty on Monday.
Micho says it was unfortunate that the duo could not come in time for them to be able to be tested for COVID-19 together with the team. He said he could not endanger the rest of the team by allowing the two players but he feels next time if they are called they will come in good time.
The Serbian gaffer went on to reiterate that he has a top-class relationship with both Chama and Chirwa contrary to beliefs from certain sections of soccer fans.
“I don’t think I came out strong, I came out as a principled Person, because of COVID-19 we tested yesterday and we got our results. So should I endanger the whole team by bringing someone in the country and they play with their friends and they are not taken care of all of? between us today, We are negative if I had waited for people coming from there. I would endanger the team, So this is exactly if they had reached and been tested yesterday and proven to be negative, they would have been there, They are Unfortunately, I thought we shall investigate I have not blamed,” Micho told the ZamFoot Crew after guiding Zambia to a 1-0 win over Malawi on Wednesday.
“I have top class relations with Triple C and obrey top class, even today, We were talking normally they have been just unfortunate, They could not reach the target of the training yesterday afternoon, This is the bottom line.”
“Let us not go whether I come out hard or whatsoever, This is already water under the bridge and I will not comment anything in that regard we go back to the drawing board next time invited if invited they will try to come in time whether I am right missing flight they are right they have not and whatsoever, We are doing investigation and if proven that someone has technically done and denied them we shall come and apologize in any way if them along also they need to come out but I have no time to think about this. I love and respect 28 players that are ready to serve Zambia here and I also respect those two players and wish them the best in their future endeavors and challenges,” he added.
The former Uganda national team boss went on to reveal that he would have been the happiest person on earth to have Clatous Chama playing as a number today.
“I will have not closed a chapter, We have very good relations, and telling you no one has closed this chapter no chance. Nobody has closed the chapter and you are very much wrong. You are digging the hole where there is no hole. We have a bridge, we are in total peace believe me,” he said.
“Nature of you is a journalist is pushing you to dig you know, I guess a lot of positive generating energy. By the way, I would be the happiest person on this planet to have against Kenya on Friday Triple C playing as number 10, but unfortunately, it was not supposed to be this is beyond my powers because they are COVID rules, They are not my personal rules,” he added.
Clatous Chota Chama and Obrey Chirwa were dropped from the Chipolopolo squad after the duo allegedly missed their flights on Monday.
Zambia will this afternoon play their second friendly match in three days as they square off with the Harambee Stars of Kenya.
We spoken coach all the very best in today’s match
Apologies for deviating a bit from the main topic. I have followed Zambian soccer for years. In my honest opinion this is the worst dressed Zambian team. Even though young I remember the days of Godfrey Ucar Chitalu Zambia was always well dressed. What I saw against Malawi was shocking. Malawi was better dressed. Ba Kamanga is seriously a disaster. A soccer Jersey is a motivating factor to a player and the technical department. This also shows the state of Zambian soccer administratively. I Have never witnessed such talent like the one we have now but with mediocre administration this talent will be wasted soon. Watch this space. Thx
Steve.
Now my only issue is this broken English, ni Micho nangu Zamfoot?
Micho is not from an English speaking country do we try to correct as much as we can without straying away from his actual message
Though we lost i can still say we have a good team it’s only the matter of co-ordination especially on the foreign based players team a day or two days not enough for them. Comparing with the Malawi game the local based players played well bcoz they have been together for sometime.go go chipolopolo
Agree with S Malunga.
It really bugs me that the current strip looks like a dining table cover piece handed down from someone’s’ late grand mother – in -law.