STEPHEN PHIRI, Lusaka
PRESIDENT Lungu has congratulated the national team for beating Zimbabwe 1-0 in yesterday’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) Group D match at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu.
The President’s special assistant for press and public relations Amos Chanda said in an interview from Monze last evening that the head of State will travel to Rwanda if the Chipolopolo cruise to the CHAN final.
“I wish to congratulate the boys for the victory over Zimbabwe. Should the team reach the semi-finals, the President will send a high-powered ministerial delegation led by the Sports Minister and if the team reaches the final, he [President Lungu] will travel to Rwanda to go and cheer and see the team lift the trophy,” Chanda said.
He urged the Chipolopolo to work hard and win by a bigger margin in the next match against Uganda on Saturday.
Chanda urged the Football Association of Zambia executive committee and the Chipolopolo technical bench to prepare the team adequately for the challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, Government has urged the national team to display a spirit of team work, hard work and dedication to duty at CHAN, ROBINSON KUNDA reports.
Chief Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that there is need for the Chipolopolo to summon the 2012 spirit that led to the winning of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kambwili pledged more support to the national team if the Chipolopolo progress to the final of the CHAN.
He said Government will provide support, including ferrying fans to Rwanda to cheer the team.