The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wedson Nyirenda

  • We respected Nigeria too much – Kalaba

    We respected Nigeria too much – Kalaba

    A disappointed captain of Zambia’s Chipolopolo, Ranford Kalaba has attributed the respect they had for Nigeria’s Super Eagles as their undoing in the first round of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

    The TP Mazembe striker told Soka25east.com admitted squandering several begging chances in the encounter. He added that Zambia respected Nigeria so much in the first half of the game and the belief came out positive especially in the second half.

    “I want to apologize to the soccer fans and the entire nation because I missed a lot of chances and we had chances to score a number goals in the first half. Am disappointed but I think it is one thing that the Coach and I will look at as we prepare for the next encounters.”

    He however said there was still a lot to play for in the group added that it was also time for the players in the Zambian national team to understand that there is a huge task going forward as we shall still face start studded teams with players that play in European leagues in the other teams that Zambia is yet to play.

    Kalaba sentiments were backed by the Zambian trainer Wedson Nyirenda who said the team has to have self-belief in themselves and change the mentality of as we approach the later stages of the qualifying round. “We still have very big chances to qualify and this group, a team can qualify with 10 points and that is what Zambia will be focusing on too,” said Nyirenda.

    The Zambian tactician, however, refused to blame the players saying it was a learning and building phase and the lapses seen in the game against Nigeria would be rectified in looking back to this game. Even when he agreed that the two goals Zambia conceded were silly mistakes, he is adamant that the players need to be given chance to still prove themselves.

    In another Group B encounter, Cameroun held Algeria in Algiers to one all group, a result that Zambia would welcome knowing the group is still open and its starts with only one team getting the three points. Nigeria lead the group with three points while Algeria and Cameroun are on one point respectively while Zambia is fourth without a point.

    The second round of games kicks off on the 7th of November 2016.

  • Eagles can’t stop our World Cup ambition – Zambian coach

    Eagles can’t stop our World Cup ambition – Zambian coach

    With just 48 hours to the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Zambia’s Chipolopolo, the coach of the southern nation, Wedson Nyirenda says they are poised to pick the sole slot from the group which has the continent’s powerhouses – Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.

    The coach told The Post of Zambia that having put the AFCON miss behind them as their ultimate aim is to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in Zambia’s history.

    “We just have to qualify. I have always said even if we are building the team, we have to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. The arrival of professionals has boosted morale in the team, we are looking good with the brotherliness I am seeing in the team. We are going to maintain Rainford Kalaba as captain,” Nyirenda said.

    He however, insisted that Rainford Kalaba remains the team’s captain.

    The tactician says it was an easy decision for him to convince Russia-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu to end his brief self-imposed exile from Chipolopolo duties.

    Speaking during the training session on Wednesday, Nyirenda said the arrival of professionals had boosted morale in the team.

    And Nyirenda said it came as a surprise for him when he heard that Chisamba had excused himself from the national team.

    Chisamba, a Nyirenda protégé from the Under-17 days, has been a consistent member of the Chipolopolo side that won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations but announced his retirement from international football saying it was frustrating that he was not seeing enough game time during the national team’s 2017 AfCON campaign that ended in failure.

    Following his appointment as interim Chipolopolo coach last month, Nyirenda recalled the Ural FC captain who unconditionally accepted the invitation.

    “Chisamba is a good player, that’s why it came as a surprise to me when I heard that and it was easy to call him and tell him. Whatever the issues he had with the team I had to call him and say, ‘this is your team’,” Nyirenda said.

    “We are all here to do national duties and he accepted without any conditions he is just coming to do work.”

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  • WCQ: Zambia propose S’Korea friendly

    WCQ: Zambia propose S’Korea friendly

    To ensure that they play a strong side ahead of 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on October 9, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is courting South Korea, among other teams, for an international friendly.

    According to The Post of Zambia, the FAZ General Secretary Ponga Liwewe only confirmed that the association was engaged in discussions with two nations for a friendly on September 28 ahead of the Nigeria match. “We are in discussions with one or two teams for a possible friendly on the 28th, but we cannot say who for now,” said Liwewe.

    However, a FAZ source indicated that South Korea was one of those teams being courted as the association wanted to give the new coach Wedson Nyirenda a high profile match before the qualifiers begin. “What I know is that South Korea is a possible candidate, the idea is to give Wada (Nyirenda) a chance to look at the players in a competitive friendly, but it may not be South Korea, there are other big teams being talked to, I am sure you will be told if we succeed with any of them,” said the source.

    Meanwhile, former President of Zambia Football Coaches Association, Patrick Kangwa has said that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to prepare Chipolopolo for the World Cup qualifiers.

    Kangwa said it was a difficult task to qualify the team to the World Cup.

    “We have a lot of work to do to prepare the team for the World Cup, but we have all the resources and all the personnel, I am positive that we can do it before the qualifier next month. It is a difficult task but we are equal to the task,” Kangwa admitted.

    The former African champion is in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers alongside seasoned campaigners Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.

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  • World Cup: Zambian coach admits Nigeria, Algeria tough opponents

    World Cup: Zambian coach admits Nigeria, Algeria tough opponents

    After been appointed as the acting assistant coach of Chipolopolo of Zambia, Wedson Nyirenda believes the presence of Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroun has confirmed the group as the toughest for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

    The coach who was engaged until the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) finalizes the recruitment of an expatriate coach is willing to lead the Zambia side against Nigeria next month.

    “I am humbled but it is overwhelming. It has come at a time when we have crucial matches and we are in the group of death but it measures the worth,” Nyirenda said.

    He said he had done enough abroad and it was time to get back home. “I am happy to come back home, I have done my part in Mozambique,” said Nyirenda.

    FAZ on Tuesday relieved George Lwandamina of his national team duties so he could focus on Zesco and appointed Nyirenda as acting assistant coach but will act as coach.

    The coach said he was happy to return home and he is likely to in be charge of Chipolopolo’s first World Cup qualifier match against the Super Eagles on October 9.

    Chipolopolo are in Group B of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers alongside seasoned campaigners Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.