2018 W/Cup Chipolopolo’s priority, says Janza

CHIPOLOPOLO coach Honour Janza has set the FIFA 2018 World Cup finals qualification as Zambia’s new priority.

Janza said in an interview yesterday after morning training session at the National Heroes Stadium that his objective was to see the team make a historic appearance at the World Cup.
He said had featured at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 17 times and that time was now ripe for the Chipolopolo to get a World Cup qualification.
“Firstly let me state that our objective is to qualify the team to the World Cup, it is a process, we will assemble the available manpower to help us accomplish that dream,” Janza said.
He reiterated he would not call players based on their names but the value of each player was his selection point as kick-off preparations for the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.
“The value of a player is what will matter and not their names for the benefit of the nation as we serve the country for the better,” he said.
Janza further echoed Sports MinistersVincent Mwale’s sentiment that he was tired of excuses of poor performances at international tournaments.
He said he was also equally fed-up of each game being an ‘eye opener’ but emphasised the need for hard work if the team was to achieve the desired results.
“We are equally tired of excuses of poor performance. We now have to work hard with players with value and no names. We are also going to minimise the talking and do the working,” he said.
Janza said the international friendly against Ethiopia next Monday would be a good platform to prepare for the AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau.
He said it would be the first time most of the foreign based would be assembling after the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.
The Ethiopia friendly, Janza said, would help him asses the players ready for the AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau on June 13.
Janza also stated that he would not underrate Guinea Bissau as very team that exists on the African continent could cause an upset.
Meanwhile, Mayuka said the team was on the right track as they prepared for the AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau.
Mayuka also said the Chipolopolo were taking the friendly against Ethiopia seriously as Zambia was rebuilding from the 2015 AFCON outing.
The England-based striker last played at the 2015 AFCON where he sustained a groin injury that has kept him away from action.
He said he had recovered and was now trying to gain some match fitness ahead of the qualifiers.
Kangwa said he was grateful to the coach for having called him for the Ethiopia friendly despite not turning up at the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
He explained that he could not travel for COSAFA due to a knee injury and was given one month to recover by a team doctor at his Israeli club.
Kangwa added that he was also dealing with transfer issues at his club as he was on a verge of changing clubs.

TimesofZambia