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>Times of Zambia by andrew Miti on 5/28/13
Levy training pitch irks Renard
By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
CHIPOLOPOLO coach Herve Renard has bemoaned the poor state of the training pitch at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Speaking in an interview after a morning practice session, Renard said the training pitch was not conducive for a team that is preparing for the crucial Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.
Zambia will play Lesotho on June 8 and Sudan a week later.
“People are expecting a lot from me but with this kind of pitch, you don’t expect players to deliver,” he said.
Renard’s concerns were backed by his assistant coach Honour Janza who said the pitch was not in a good shape as it had no markings, saying it was a pity that the the situation was like that despite people (stadium management) knowing that the Chipolopolo would be coming to train at the pitch.
“We were in Namibia and everyone knew that from there we were coming here to train but it unfortunate the training pitch is not ready.
“And how do you expect the boys to adjust on such a pitch, the dreams of going to the World Cup must start with everybody playing their roles right,” he said.
But a source close to the stadium management disclosed that there was no formal communication from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to indicate that the national soccer team was going to commence training at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The source said since the facility was attacked by caterpillars, it had been under the care of the ministry of Agriculture experts and was only handed over to management last Friday.
Meanwhile, striker Collins Mbesuma and defender Joseph Muosnda were the first two professionals to join the squad that regrouped in Ndola with 14 out of the 25 players called into the Chipolopolo provisional turning up for camp.
The 14 comprised mostly local players who were found training in the morning.
These included goalkeepers Rabson Mucheleng’anga (Nchanga Rangers), Danny Munyau ( Red Arrows) and Davy Kaumbwa (Green Buffalos) with Mbesuma and Nchanga’s Bornwell Mwape being the only strikers.
Others were Alex Ng’onga (Nchanga Rangers), Shadreck Malambo (Red Arrows), Kondwani Mtonga (Zesco United), Keegan Bwalya (Kabwe Warriors), Salulani Phiri (Zanaco), Bronson Chama and Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows).
Meanwhile, Noah Chivuta says he is happy to get a Chipolopolo recall for the first time since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
“All I can say is I will just come and fight for my place,” Chivuta told MTNFootball.com.
Chivuta returns to the Zambia fold for the first since January at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa along with striker James Chamanga from Chinese club Liaoning Whowin.
And Ex-Zambia star defender Mordon Malitoli has told Zanaco midfielder Isaac Chansa not to despair after Renard dropped him for June’s 2014 qualifiers.
The 1994 Africa Cup star told MTNFootball.com that he believed the versatile Chansa could overcome the setback and bounce back in the team.
Zambia lead Group D on seven points after three rounds of matches played.
Ghana are second on six points, Lesotho th
