Zambia U17 National team coach Dennis Makinka says the team needs to work on finishing as they are not converting the many chances they are creating.
Makinka who was speaking after his side saw off New Caledonia 3-0 in a friendly match feels his side is showing character and pushing so much but needs to be more clinical in the final third.
Makinka was left impressed with his side after the game as all the players who played in the match gave their best.
“First of all, thank you, and I just want to say the boys are really showing character, never giving up, never underrating any team. They pushed so much, though we need to now start working on finishing. I think we are creating a lot of chances, but just converting. We can’t finish so many chances that we have created,” Makinka said.
“You know, we came with a big number, 25 players, so we needed to look at everyone. So we started with the same lineup that we played against Mexico. They gave us their all, so at halftime we decided let’s give everyone a chance. And at least we are able to see that the team is ready now because everyone, even those that just came in, they gave a good show.”
Makinka will need to name his final squad in the next 72 hours having carried 25 players to Dubai with only 21 expected to proceed to Qatar.
He has since encouraged the players who will be dropped to continue working hard and not relent while for the 21 he has urged them to continue fighting and not relax.
“Yeah, you know, difficult decisions to make. Of course, the 25 that we came with, they are all showing that they can play. But, you know, football is about numbers. We have to make that decision. And obviously, for the players that have to go home, I would like to tell them that, you know, this is not the end. Sometimes, you know, you can never play at the under-17 level, but you can still make it at the under-20 level because as it stands, they are in the database of us. So whatever happens, they’ll be considered even in the next assignments that we’re going to have,” he said.
“They still have to fight. We don’t have to be complacent because we named the final list, no. We need to fight and fight and never give up and continue pushing like the way we’ve been pushing while we were 25,” he added.
The former Nkwazi head coach was also quick to thank the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for arranging the camp in Dubai and giving his side adequate preparations.
“I think we are so grateful to FAZ for the friendlies that they gave us. They gave us enough time to prepare. Even back home in Zambia, I think we had about six friendlies with the local teams and now we just wanted international exposure, two games, very enough,we’ve seen enough and the boys, I think they’ve seen what to expect at the tournament and I think we are ready. We are so grateful to FAZ and we say kudos to them. I think this has been a great outing,” he said.
The Young Copper Bullets beat Mexico 3-1 before thrashing New Caledonia 3-0 in preparatory matches ahead of the World Cup.
Zambia have been drawn in Group H alongside Brazil, Honduras, and Indonesia.
The Junior Chipolopolo will open their World Cup campaign against Indonesia on November 4, face Honduras three days later, and conclude the group stage with a tough clash against Brazil on November 10.
