Chipolopolo Boys coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic is targeting carrying a full-strength squad to the 2021 COSAFA Cup tournament.
The Serbian gaffer is looking to use the tournament as a springboard for the World Cup qualifiers.
The Chipolopolo Boys boss is not taking anything lightly as he is aware of the quality the opponents have as he sets his sights on defending the cup won by Aggrey Chiyangi back in 2019.
“We want to use Cosafa as a springboard towards the World Cup qualifiers in September.
We are in a very tough competitive group. Let us take into consideration that Malawi has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations. Comoros has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations. Madagascar reached the quarter-finals of the last African Cup of Nations,” he said.
“Every match in the group counts and we intend to go there step by step to the semi-finals and then step by step to try to defend the trophy.”
“We are looking to get as many professionals without the game time and those who missed the recent trip to West Africa,” he added.
The tournament will take place from July 7 to July 18, 2021. The top team in each pool, as well as the best second-place finisher, will advance to the semifinals. There will be no Plate competition this time around.
The Copper Bullets will be aiming for a sixth title to match record winners Zimbabwe (six wins), South Africa have won four titles, Angola three, and Namibia have a single title to their name.
Mozambique, Malawi, and Botswana have all twice been finalists but ended up on the losing side on both occasions. Lesotho (2000) is the only other team to reach the decider. Zambia won the tournament in 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, and 2019.
Thats positive thinking. Give chance to all professionals and do not forget shemmy mahembe in Ukraine.. ngosa sunzu .. lamerck banda.. chilufya and emmanuel banda.. we are tired of chipante pante from local boys..
please, included Solomon Sakala
@Tony Mash Very valuable observation. Micho must spread the net to our players you mentioned as a number of our local players have been tested so far . Results from this tournament don’t matter . Main focus is to select players who can deliver then after the cosafa arrange two or three friendly matches .
The Author of this article missed a Point. 2 teams from each qualify to semi finals, No its not but Quarter finals. Thank you