By SANDRA MWILA –

ZAMBIA Under-17 soccer team talisman, Patson Daka with two other key players have been ruled of next weekend’s crucial qualifier of the Niger 2015 Africa Under-17 Championship in Botswana.
The trio, who were part of the Zambian team that won the first leg of the second round 1-0 in Lusaka on Sunday, will miss the return match because of injuries.
Under-17 coach Chris Kaunda has been left in a quandary and he admitted the return leg would be a tough without the trio.
With main striker Daka ruled out after limping off with an injury in the first leg, Siame Musonda and Enock Mwepu, who scored the lone goal at Sunset Stadium, have joined him on the sidelines.
“It is unfortunate that Mwepu, who scored the only goal during the first leg, has a hamstring injury just like Patson and Enock,” Kaunda said of the three players who were all starters in the game against Botswana.
Kaunda, however, said the technical bench would find replacements for the three key players from the 25 in camp.
“We try our best to look around and replace the three players but to be honest this is a big blow and it has affected everyone,” he said.
Kaunda said the team was now panicking and had a lot of work to do to ensure Zambia prevailed over the Tswanas on their home soil.
He said Zambia made a lot of mistakes and missed some scoring chances during the Botswana game at Sunset and the technical bench was working on improving the ball movement.
“To be honest, we were lucky to win that game. I was disappointed we did not play well and we have some homework to prepare adequately,” he said.
Kaunda said they had one week to correct the errors the team made in the first leg.
“Botswana is a good team. I have respect for them and I am sure they will give us a tough time but we will be ready for them,” Kaunda said.
He advised the Botswana coach Odrile China Matlharu to focus on preparing for the
game and not on Zambian players whom he claims were overage.
“My job and that of my Tswana colleague is to coach, let him leave that for administrators,” he said.