.JANZA

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

NEW Chipolopolo coach Honour Janza has warned senior national team players to be at their best at all times as there will be no guaranteed places in the Chipolopolo squad.
Speaking at a Press briefing at Football House in Lusaka yesterday after being presented to the media by FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya, Janza said the players needed to be focused and know that the task ahead was not easy but they should overcome.
He said qualifying to 2015 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was his first mission and believed Zambia had the ability to do so.
“Every player should be focused on making sure that Zambia qualifies for the Africa Cup and every player should be at his best all the time. Doors are open to all players and no one has a guaranteed place,” Janza said.
He said he would keep the entire backroom staff that his predecessor Patrice Beaumelle worked with Chintu Kampamba as the assistant coach and Davies Phiri as the goalkeeping coach.
Lusekelo Kamwambi will remain team manager with team doctor being Joseph Kabungo and all other backroom staff as a sign of continuity in rebuilding the Chipolopolo.
Kalusha called for support for Janza and that time had come to trust a local coach with such a task.
He said Zambia had of late posted successes with other national teams with local coaches being in charge.
“We made it to Costa Rica for the FIFA Women Under-17 World Cup, to the African Women Championships with local coaches, the boys Under-17 and Under-20 are also doing quite well with locals.
“We have consulted the Sports Ministry and the Sports Council of Zambia who have all agreed with our vision and we call for all to support Janza in his quest to qualify us to the Africa Cup,” he said.
Kalusha justified the FAZ choice of Janza taking up the top job, saying the CAF instructor had been around the Chipolopolo since 2008 and was also at the 2010 and 2012 AFCON finals and could simply carry on the vision of Herve Renard and Beaumelle.
He also thanked Renard and Beaumelle for their contributions to Zambian football in the last few years which culminated in winning the 2012 AFCON title.
Kalushsa said the preparations for the September 6 home tie against Mozambique would start next week with camping of locally based players before being joined by the foreign legion.