“I ADVISE THE PLAYERS TO FEEL THE PAIN”
Chipolopolo veteran James Chamanga sat down and shared some words on the current scenario the Chipolopolo finds themselves in. This is what he had to share:
“We are looking forward to the qualifiers. I advise the players to feel the pain that the Zambian people are feeling and try to write their names in the history books by qualifying to the AFCON,” the 42-year-old said. The 2012 AFCON winner is no stranger to success; during his time in South Africa, he played for Bush Bucks, SuperSport United, and Moroka Swallows. At Swallows, during the 2007/8 season, he emerged Premier Soccer League’s top scorer despite leaving the league prematurely with 14 goals in 21 games. He left South Africa for Asia where he featured for Dalian Shide and Liaoning FC in China and was later appointed Technical Director at the China League One side.
Holding back nothing, Chamanga called on the players to continuously put in their best ahead of the AFCON qualifiers in June. “The first game of the qualifiers will be very important. There’s a need for the players to work as a team and forget where they are coming from. They need to work as a unit and remember us who fully love the national team and the nation as well,” Chamanga said.
The Red Arrows striker said the public should judge the current crop of their players based on their ability to deliver on the pitch as they were still bonding to be one.
“We need to give the full support (to the players), I know Zambians love football and want the results but everything goes with time. Even we experienced the same, we didn’t just come in the picture and did everything within a year or two, so it’s the same with these young players,” the 2019/20 MTN Super League Top scorer said.“Most of them are from the U20 (that won the 2017 U20 AFCON) and we have a few experienced players who we need to give maximum support by coming out in numbers especially during the home qualifier games because all of us want the national team to qualify.”
Having appeared at the Africa Cup in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013 editions, Chamanga said playing at the continental showpiece comes with a lot of pride and required the players to have the heart of the people in order to be among the participants next year.
“I can’t explain the feeling (of playing at the Africa Cup). The pride that it brings to you, your family, and the nation is amazing. They should just remember to play football for a reason and leave a positive mark. We have passed our glory days and we are looking for glory days to come from these players,” Chamanga said.
It looks like the curtains are not closing on Chamanga’s career. In the current season, he has featured in the CAF Confederation Cup with Red Arrows and continues to be instrumental for the Zambia Air Force sponsored side who are commanding a five-point lead at the summit of the table and had this to say:
“Football is my life; I have lived football my entire life. I want to transfer what I have done for the nation to the young ones so that they can also do the same,” Chamanga said.“My glory cannot last forever; we need to have new glory so I am still continuing to play because of these young players. Once I see the national team is doing fine, I am sure I will be happy to my time has come to step down and do something else.”
Source: Official FAZ Facebook page
