Zambian coach Herve Renard has named a 28 men squad which he is taking to South Africa for their final preparatory camp before heading to Equatorial Guinea. Included in the squad are the foreign-based players , Emmanuel Mayuka , Isaac Chansa, Chintu Kampamba and Joseph Musonda who are already in the country. James Chamanga and Thomas Nyirenda who carrying some injuries have been put on stand-by. Christopher Katongo is the captain and Renard will be expecting him to lead the team’s great expectations the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach Renard said “I’m very ambitious and with this squad, I want us to do better than what we did in Angola two years ago. So to be better means nothing short of a minimum of a semi-final is better. But overall, with this squad, we will be ready psychologically, physically, tactically and mentally.
It is our dream to win the Africa Cup particularly in Libreville where you know a great a part of our history was written. It would be fantastic for the memories of the Zambian team that died there,” said Renard adding: “Our first target is get out of the group and then after reaching the quarter-finals, we can dream to get to the final.”
“We have wonderful players and in it new revelations who can compete for the first eleven. Of course, I would have loved to have Jacob Mulenga and Emmanuel Mbola. But we have Mayuka to replace Jacob.
We have Mbesuma, Singuluma, Kola and James should recover as well as the young striker Evans. But overall, the talents in the team should be good enough to play for each other.”
“Team spirit will be key and the players’ commitment. We want to play as a good team with all players committed to fight for their country and not just themselves. We will be ourselves. We won’t fear anybody. We will respect every opponent and play our game,” concluded Renard.
Zambia’s playing colours at next month’s finals were revealed. Chipolopolo will wear Orange shirts with Green shorts and Orange socks while the change strip will be green shirt, black short and green socks. The goalkeepers will be in all yellow and all blue.
Meanwhile striker Collins Mbesuma will join with the rest of the team in South Africa where he plays for Golden Arrows. Also joining the team in South Africa is Free Stare Stars’ midfielder Noah Chivuta. Zambia will be training in Johannesburg from 27th December until January 18 when they are expected to fly out to Equatorial Guinea ahead of their opening 2012 Nations Cup Group A game against Senegal on January 21st in Bata.
During the training camp Zambia will play against South Africa in a friendly at Atteridgeville on January 11.
