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NATIONAL team coach Patrice Beaumelle says some players are lacking fitness ahead of next Wednesday’s international friendly against the Cranes of Uganda.
Beaumelle said this at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium annex field in Ndola on Thursday after the Chipolopolo beat Power Dynamos 2-1 in a training match.
He said players lacking fitness need one month to be ready for competitive football.
“Some players are not ready. They need one more month to get used to competitive football. You can see some players are very very fit. The aim of this camp is to prepare for the friendly maybe in May or June everybody will have to perform,” Beaumelle said.
The Chipolopolo face Uganda at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in an evening kick-off.
Beaumelle was, however, impressed with youngsters Patson Daka, Godfrey Ngwenya, Adrian Chama and goalkeeper Edison Phiri.
“You can see today that a boy like Chama did very well, Patson Daka, Godfrey Ngwenya and goalkeeper Edison Phiri. He [Phiri] played 15 minutes, he did very well and we found him in Kaoma,” Beaumelle said.
Daka and Ngwenya were members of the under-20 national team that was eliminated in the preliminary round at the 2013 Cosafa Youth Championship in Lesotho.
Beaumelle was impressed with the team’s performance.
“This is a good opportunity I used to take players with experience like Christopher (Katongo), Bronson (Chama) and George (Chilufya) and some boys with the national team. It’s never easy to play against Power Dynamos. It is a very good team I just want to congratulate the boys for a win,” he said.
Beaumelle said foreign-based players are expected to join camp on Monday.
The Frenchman has summoned 16 foreign-based players for the clash against Uganda.
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