Kuwait bound Young Bullets get down to work

The Kuwait bound local assemblage Zambia National Team has stepped up preparations for the December 25 friendly match. 

The team comprising of mainly Zambia U-23 National team stars started their preps with a training session at Edwin Imboela Stadium on Monday morning. 

The team went through their paces through the watchful eye of coach Oswald Mutapa, Mwenya Chipepo, 2012 AFCON winners Christopher Katongo and Kalililo Kakonje ahead of the international fixture.

Mutapa who will be incharge of the team believes it’s a very important high profile match that his players need to take seriously. 

“It’s important that we have such friendlies especially for our local players having in mind that they have to compete with the senior players and other professionals that we have in the national team,” Mutapa said.

“It’s not just one of those friendlies. It’s a high profile friendly against a team of great calibre and we ask the boys to take it seriously and show that they are able to compete at that level.”

The Young Bullets will face the Blue Wave on the 25th of December 2022 at the 60, 000 capacity Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.

The game is being used as part of the team’s preparations for the tussle against Egypt in the final round of the Morocco 2023 U23 AFCON Qualifiers.

Zambia progressed to the final round with a 2-1 aggregate scoreline over Eswatini. 

Egypt and Zambia will face each other in March 2023 for a place at the tournament.

The U23 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in July 2023 in Morocco with the first three teams qualifying automatically to the 2024 Olympic Games.

Full Squad 

Goalkeepers

Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows), Patrick Chooma (Prison Leopards), Mukuka Chilufya (Shamuel), Francis Mwansa (Trident)

Defenders 

Emmanuel Bwalya Chembe, Andrew Phiri, Mathews Chabala (All Nchanga Rangers), John Chishimba (ZESCO United), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Ronald Mwansa Chileshe (FC MUZA) , Gift Prosper Mphande (Atletico Lusaka), Shapy Chikondi Njobvu (Green Eagles), Golden Mafwenta (Real Monarch – USA) 

Midfielders 

Patrick Gondwe (Nkana), Dalitso Phiri  (ZANACO ), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), John Kosamu (Green Buffaloes) , Dominic Kanda (Shamuel ), Joy Yolamu (Prison Leopards), Mwiya Mwiya (FC MUZA).

Strikers 

Enock Sakala Jnr (ZESCO United), Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles), Andrew Phiri (FC MUZA), Jimmy Mukeya (NAPSA Stars), Wilson Shosho Chisala (Zanaco)