The Chipolopolo boys have regrouped in Lusaka ahead of the 2021 Cosafa Cup that runs from July 6-18 in Port Elizabeth.
Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has handed some players from the under-17 and 20 squads that he hopes can make the cut for the tournament.
Under-17 skipper Miguel Chaiwa and his teammate Joseph Sabobo Banda have been roped while Jimmy ‘Zobrigo’ Mukeya and Prince Mumba are from the under-20 pool.
Cape Town City midfielder Justin Shonga and Gamphani Lungu of SuperSport United are among the foreign based players that have joined camp.
Also in camp is Bradley Mweene who plies his trade in Portugal.
Some more foreign based players are being awaited with the Polokwane City duo of Salulani Phiri and Cyril Chibwe expected to join.
Others being awaited are goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns), Augustine Mulenga (Amazulu) and Roderick Kabwe of Black Leopards.
Defending champions Zambia is in Group B alongside Malawi, Comoros and Madagascar.
Only the top team in each of the three groups and the best-placed runner-up will advance to the semi-finals in what is a change in format for the tournament this year.
That means each side is guaranteed three games up to a maximum of five, which will provide vital preparation for those national teams involved in 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers later this year.
The Cosafa Cup is making a comeback after the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it will be hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay for the first time, which has been a familiar home for other Cosafa competitions in recent years.
A friendly match is needed. To sharpen the team and to give exposure to some of the young stars. Its very exciting to hear that bradely mweene has been ropped in.
Am still wondering why shemmy mahembe is not being given a chance to prove himself. Am sure the first phase of build the team passed without success. Micho was dealing with local who failed to deliver. Now he should give chance to foreign based players.
@ Tony mash . Shemmy mahembe couldn’t be considered as cosafa does not fall under fifa calendar
Shonga what in hell is he called to the squad mwebantu. Is he Micho’s blue eyed boy or blossom friend or what? He spent almost the entire season on the bench at a below average team in SothAfrica. Otherwise he spent time in the stands with soccer fanatics singing gospel! This Micho without omitting Sunzu, Kalaba, triple CCC, Chongo in the Tswana match we should have qualified to Afcon. Dont let him play “God” with team selection in future, Aftet all he hardly knows the capability of our players. As a test case let him reveal the reason he has dropped CCC and Tandi Mwape for this tournament!
Slim Tandi was with the team in the recent friendly games. He played all games. Let him rest. The coach already knows he is a pillar in the team. He is proved himself. The guys has had no break.
CCC is key player at Simba and the club won’t just release him for Non FIFA Calendar tournament. Simba are busy in the League right now.
I would agree with you on Sunzu to be looked at. Not sure what’s the league schedule in China now.
Shemmy Mayembe should be considered for International engagements. He is a regular player in the Ukrainian league which is by far a better League compared to some of our players considered from some leagues.
Jimmy Mukeya & Joseph Banda are right calls….