DIANA MUTAKAFIMBO, Lusaka
NATIONAL team coach Honour Janza has recalled midfielder Felix Katongo for Sunday’s international friendly against Malawi.
Katongo, who was not on Janza’s initial list, was among 13 players that reported to camp on Sunday and had the first training session at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka yesterday.
The former Pedro Atletico, Mamelodi Sundowns, Jomo Cosmos, Rennes and Al Ittihad player is currently training with Green Buffaloes.
The dribbling midfielder last featured for the Chipolopolo at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Zambia face Malawi in Lusaka at Nkoloma Stadium in an international friendly.
And Chicago Magic midfielder Benson Sakala was the first foreign-based player to report to camp while Democratic Republic of Congo side TP Mazembe midfielder Nathan Sinkala, who is in the country, was expected to join his colleagues last evening.
Team manager Lusekelo Kamwambi said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the other three foreign-based players are expected to join camp by Thursday.
Besides Zimbabwe-based defender Aaron Katebe, Janza has also summoned skipper Rainford Kalaba, Given Singuluma and Kabaso Chongo, all of TP Mazembe.
“The game will not be played on a FIFA date, so we are relying on the relationship we have with clubs to have players available for the game,” Kamwambi said.
He said players from Power Dynamos and Nkana were also expected in camp last evening while Zesco United have not yet given a reason why their players have not yet been released.
Kamwambi said the team will break camp after the Malawi friendly and regroup on May 17 to start preparations for the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Senior Challenge Cup.
The tournament will kick-off on May 17 in South Africa.
Zambia will enter the competition at the quarter-final stage.
Meanwhile, the under-23 national team that regrouped in Lusaka on Sunday could not train yesterday due to miscommunication with Zanaco over the use of Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
Only seven players reported to camp with coach Fighton Simukonda hoping for a full house this week.
The junior Chipolopolo is preparing for the CAF Under-23 Championship qualifier against either Botswana or Kenya scheduled for May 23.