By SANDRA MWILA and GWEN CHIPASULA –
RECALLED midfielder, Felix Katongo says he will use his experience to help the Chipolopolo defend the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup that kicks off on May 17 in South Africa.

. Katongo

Katongo, who has not featured for the national team for some time, said he was happy to have been recalled and will do his best to help the team win starting with the friendly match against Malawi.
He said this after yesterday’s morning training session at the Heroes National Stadium, adding that he will play his part in helping the team defend the regional title.
Katongo said he was not intimidated by the upcoming players but will fight to earn his position in the team for the Malawi international friendly and COSAFA.
He said the team was almost ready for the COSAFA but was quick to say it will be a tough competition and  urged the players to take Malawi seriously because the visitors will be aiming for a win.
Coach Honour Janza’s squad was boosted by Zesco United players who yesterday joined the squad after failing to report on Sunday.
Team manager Lusekelo Kamwambi said the five Zesco players will be released to enable them feature for the club in the rescheduled week three fixture against Nakambala Leopards.
He said players from Power Dynamos, Zesco and Nakambala will be required to report back this evening after playing for their clubs.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Under-23 soccer team has been hit by injuries ahead of the CAF 2015 African Championship qualifiers next month.
Midfielders Bruce Musakanya and Salulani Phiri, and striker Davey Daka all reported with hamstring injuries as the team finally started training yesterday after suffering a hitch on Monday.
Coach Fighton Simukonda is, however, hopeful that the three will join camp as soon as they recover ahead of the qualifiers that start in this month.
“All the three players have hamstring injuries which they came with from their clubs but the doctors here will check on them. Bruce is today (yesterday) going for some checkups at the Italian Hospital so we are waiting to see how it will go,” he said.
Zambia is on bye in the first round and will play the winner of the Botswana versus Kenya tie in the second round on the weekend of May 22. The winner from that tie will then face Ivory Coast for a place at the U-23 African Championship set for Senegal.
Simukonda said 13 of the 26 summoned players have joined camp and that preparations will go ahead despite some difficulties faced by the team.