Since Andrew Kamanga took over as FAZ President in 2016, eight coaches have been in-charge of the Chipolopolo Boys.
Below the ZamFoot Crew takes a look at how the coaches fared.
George Lwandamina (2015–2016)
When the new FAZ executive led by Andrew Kamanga took over in March 2021, they found George Lwandamina with dual roles.
The former Mufulira Wanderers defender was in-charge of both the Chipolopolo Boys and Zesco United.
Earlier on, he guided Zambia to the quarter finals at the CHAN 2016 but having failed to qualify to the Gabon 2017 African Cup of Nations, Kamanga had seen enough and let Lwandamina go.
Guinea Bissau qualified at the expense of Zambia in a group also involving Congo Brazzaville and Kenya.
Lwandamina also failed to win the 2016 edition of Cosafa which was won by Namibia.
He also saw Zesco United surrender the league title to Zanaco.
His highlight was guiding Zesco United to the CAF Champions League semi finals in 2016.
Wedson Nyirenda (2016–2018)
One of a few times, FAZ advertised for the Chipolopolo job and host of foreign coaches applied.
At some point South Africa’s Gordon Igesund even travelled to Lusaka and was spotted at Football House. The South African was believed to the first choice for FAZ.
Due to government’s non committal for the coach’s package, FAZ turned to Wedson Nyirenda who was initially pencilled as part of the backroom staff.
Actually Wada Wada was meant to be Igesund’s assistant but due to non – availability of funds saw the Power Dynamos and Kaizer Chiefs legend handed the job with Aggrey Chiyangi as his deputy.
Nyirenda’s wages were believed to be around $10, 000 [K100, 000 at the time]
Nyirenda took over from Lwandamina in August 2016 and under his tutelage qualified Zambia to CHAN tournament and came second in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Having failed to go past Sudan in the quarter finals of CHAN in February 2018, Nyirenda, there was fan discontent and calls for him to be shown the exit door.
Kamanga decided to take Wada to Europe to enhance his coaching credentials in an expenses paid for stint. Some kind of sponsored and paid for study leave.
Wada resigned to join then South Africa PSL side Baroka.
Wada Wada’s highlight was that back to back win over Algeria as Zambia came second to Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers.
He will also be credited with assembling Zambia’s first competitive team post 2012 AFCON triumph.
Wada also acted as Technical Adviser to Beston Chambeshi during the CAF 2017 Under-20 won on home soil for the first time.
In 2016, the coaching pair captured the Under-20 COSAFA Cup with the same Bola Na Lesa Boys in South Africa.
His lowest point was when Zambia lost at home to Mozambique at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in the first match of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
He vehemently refused to include key Under-20 personnel who had returned from the Under-20 World Cup insisting they were not ready for Chipolopolo duty.
He also failed to win the Cosafa Cup.
Fans were angered when he openly differed with players like Clatous Chota and at some point banished Rainford Kalaba from his squad.
He also openly differed with Bestone Chambeshi, now his assistant, over the introduction of Ronald Kampamba during a Four Nations tournament in Ndola in 2018.
Beston Chambeshi (2018)
Chambeshi was just a stop gap before Kamanga head hunted for Sven Vanderbroeck.
He led Zambia to 3-2 win over Herve Renard’s Morocco and reached the COSAFA Cup final before losing 3-1 to Zimbabwe.
Sven Vandenbroeck (2018–2019)
In search of a new Herve Renard, the FAZ Technical Committee interviewed a few candidates including the 1985 born Jonathan Mcintsry and unearthed the Belgian from Cameroon where he was working as Hugo Broos’ assistant coach.
He was given a short term contract with the task of qualification to the Africa Cup he had won with Broos in 2017.
Caming in highly recommended, Sven had five matches to prove his mettle.
Having lost to Mozambique on match day 1, Sven’s first match in – charge was away in Windhoek against Namibia.
Then back to back against Guinea Bissau before an away trip to Maputo.
By the end of the qualifiers, Namibia was heading to AFCON with Zambia missing for the second time in a row.
But it was not just Zambia’s failure on the pitch on the pitch which landed the Belgian in trouble.
Sven was also outspoken.
“Everyone wants to believe that Zambia is a big country in football maybe it is but we only won it once in 2012, you always have to base it on the past few years not 40 years ago, in 2013 first round out, 2015 first round out 2017 did not qualify and 2019 so maybe we need to build from grassroots trough certain structure to have a strong team,” Sven was once quoted.
Below are a few more testy comments the former Cameroon Assistant coach made.
“Seychelles is a destination for Holiday.”
“Botswana is not well known to me in terms of football.”
“Angola at least they have hosted Africa cup before.”
“Congo DR I know them because of TP Mazembe.”
“South Africa yes they play ‘good’ football because most Zambian players their dream is to play there.”
“That’s a stupid question but I will answer it anyway.”
” Maybe you watched another game.”
