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‘Up your game’
By ELIAS CHIPEPO and KALUMIANA KALUMIANA –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has told players to individually step up their game and begin to focus on how they will conquer Ghana in Kumasi for them to sail through to the final round of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
FAZ media and communications manager Erick Mwanza said while the association will ensure that the team is adequately prepared for the must-win clash in Kumasi on September 8, it will be important for players as they break camp to visualise and physiologically prepare their minds on winning the match.
Mwanza said during a media briefing at Football House in Lusaka yesterday that the Chipolopolo do not fear Ghana, who are yet to upset tables against Zambia dating way back to the 1988 Seoul Olympics qualifiers.
“The players have been told, as we released them after a tiresome period, to begin individually visualising winning the match.
“Each player should see how they will apply themselves in that match. As they are training at their respective clubs, let them see how best they can psyche themselves towards winning the match,” he said.
Mwanza said FAZ was taking nothing for granted but will ensure that coach, Herve Renard uses the Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) and African Nations Championships (CHAN) to prepare the players.
He said FAZ will also use the August FIFA international date to secure a friendly match so that the team can be in good shape, adding that preparations have already started and it must come as no surprise when officials are spotted in West Africa.
Mwanza also urged fans travelling to Ghana to get in touch with FAZ so that they can be assisted with tickets and other necessary logistics, saying the match being a Class A risk match, all eyes will be on Kumasi to see who advances and thus the demand for the tickets.
And China-based striker, James Chamanga believes Zambia will pull a surprise against Ghana in the September 8 clash in a match where the Black Stars need a draw to qualify to the final stage while the Chipolopolo are in a must-win situation.
Chamanga said in an interview from his base in China yesterday that Zambia can still play with the same spirit that helped them win them the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations title in Gabon.
“My take on the Ghana game; only God will tell who is going to Brazil. We have done it before and I believe we can do it again,” Chamanga said.
Chamanga also added that the team could not afford to let their fans down after the overwhelming support they got against Lesotho and Sudan on June 8 and 15, respectively, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The winner in Kumasi will advance to the last round of 10 where the teams will be paired in home and away knockout ties during the dates of October 11-15 and November 15-19. The five winners over both legs will qualify for the Brazil World Cup to be held from June 12 to July 13, 2014.
Meanwhile, Mwanza said the local league resumes this weekend with Nchimunya Mweetwa and Christopher Musonda, who were banned for matc
