Patrice unveils CECAFA squad

INTERIM national team coach, Patrice Beaumelle has added three new faces to his unveiled provisional 27-member squad for the 2013 Confederations of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup.

The team that went into camp at the Melsim Lodge in Lusaka yesterday includes new names in Kalulushi Modern Stars exciting striker Shadreck Musonda and the Power Dynamos duo of midfielder Emmanuel Chimpinde and defender Lawrence Musonda.

The 2013 Airtel Rising Stars pair of captain and striker Patson Daka and goalkeeper Charles Muntanga from Kafue Celtic and Zamcoal Diggers have also made it to the team this time around hoping to make the final list after missing out on the Jordan trip.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) spokesperson Erick Mwanza said that Beaumelle will trim the team to 20 after this Saturday’s Barclays Cup final between Red Arrows and Nchanga Rangers.

Mwanza said the players that regrouped in Lusaka at the Melsim Lodge started training yesterday and will run up to Sunday; a few days before the tournament kicks off in Kenya on November 27 through to December 12.

“The onus will be on the players to put in their best in training and prove to the coach that they are worth of a place in the national team to play at the CECAFA tournament. And as FAZ, we are confident of a good outing,” Mwanza said.

Zambia has been pitted in Group B along with Burundi, Somalia and Tanzania. Zambia’s opening group match will be against Tanzania on Thursday, November 28 followed by the match against Burundi on Sunday, December 1, while the final group match will be against Somalia on December 4.

Goalkeepers; Joshua Titima (Power), Toaster Nsabata (Rangers), Charles Mutanga (Zamcoal) and Davy Kaumbwa (Green Buffaloes).

Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows) leads the defenders who include Rodrick Kabwe (Zanaco), Lawrence Chungu (Power), Christopher Munthali (Nkana), Bronson Chama (Arrows), George Chilufya (Rangers) and Salulani Phiri (Zanaco).

Midfielders

: Kondwani Mtonga (Zesco United), Shadreck Malambo and Bruce Musakanya (Arrows), Misheck Chaila (Konkola Blades), Emmanuel Chimpinde, Julius Situmbeko and Mathews Nkowani (Power), Sydney Kalume (Nkana) and Felix Katongo (Green Buffaloes).

Strikers

are Shadreck Musonda (Kalulushi), Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba and Festus Mbewe (Nkana), Patson Daka (Kafue Celtic), Alex Ng’onga and Bonwell Mwape (Rangers) and Justin Zulu (Kabwe Warriors).

[Times of Zambia]