ALEX NJOVU, Lusaka
COACH Beston Chambeshi is impressed with competition in the under-20 national team ahead of the Africa Youth Championship kicking off on February 26 in Lusaka and Ndola.
Chambeshi said in an interview on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka yesterday that all the players want to be part of the final team.
During the two-week camping in Spain, the junior Chipolopolo beat Tenerife and Swiss side FC Basel youth teams 1-0 apiece and lost 3-1 to Barcelona B.
“The foreign-based players Mwape Mumba and Emmanuel Banda have integrated well in the team. The competition is high and I am very happy. We want to go very far in the tournament. The facilities [in Spain] were excellent,” Chambeshi said.
He said Israel-based midfielder Conlyde Luchanga will join the junior Chipolopolo soon.
Chambeshi thanked Government and the Football Association of Zambia for facilitating the outing to Spain.
He declared the junior Chipolopolo ready for battle.
National team coach Wedson Nyirenda, who was with the under-20 in Spain, and other members of the technical bench were expected in Lusaka last night.
Zambia are in Group A with Egypt, Guinea and Mali while Group B has Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa and Sudan.
The top four finishers will qualify for the FIFA South Korea World Youth Championship slated for May this year.
Zambia Sports Fans Association members led by patron Peter Makembo received the under-20 team.