By SANDRA MWILA –

CHIPOLOPOLO striker Given Singuluma has backed coach ‘Chicken’ George Lwandamina saying, he is capable of leading the African Nations Championship (CHAN) squad to the finals of the competition.
Singuluma said in an interview from Morocco yesterday that Lwandamina has all the experience to assemble a strong team that can storm the final and probably win the competition.
The TP Mazembe player said Lwandamina was part of the Herve Renard technical bench that guided the Chipolopolo to the third place finish during the 2009 CHAN tournament.
Singuluma, who was part of that CHAN squad in 2009  and emerged as top scorer of  five goals to win the golden boot award, said Lwandamina can now go beyond that level.
“Congratulations to the team for qualifying for the CHAN after missing out on two editions, it was a well earned victory and they should keep up the fighting spirit.
“Lwandamina is an experienced coach, we were with him at the 2009 CHAN tournament and we reached the semi-finals and this time he is capable of reaching the finals of the competition,” Singuluma said.
Singuluma said the local league has a number of experienced players and that, they will be enough depth for the CHAN tournament. He urged the players to die a little for the nation by ensuring they reach and win the final.
“The league has good players and I am sure if they work hard they have the potential of reaching the finals or even winning the trophy,” he said.
Zambia beat Mozambique 4-1 on aggregate in the final round of qualifiers to seal a slot at the CHAN finals.
Singuluma is with the Mazembe side that has set up training camp in Tunis ahead of this weekend CAF 2015 Champions League first leg final against USM Alger of Algeria.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo midfielder Fwayo Tembo was on target for Astra Giurgiu after scoring in the 4-3 win over FC Brasov on  Tuesday night in the Romania Cup.
Fwayo scored the opening goal in the 17th minute before Constantin Valentin doubled the advantage 11 minutes later with Alexandru Lonita looking to have sealed the win in the 35th minute.
But Brasov responded with three goals in the 67, 88 and 90th minutes to send the match into extra time but failed to add on their goals allowing Astra to score in 117th minute of extra time through Dandea.
The enterprising midfielder was instrumental during the 2015 Equatorial Guinea Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers but was left out  for the finals.
Fwayo last featured for Chipolopolo during the Gabon 2017 AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau in Ndola where he came on as a substitute.
Prior to the game, Fwayo had snubbed coach Honour Janza’s call up for the international friendly against Ethiopia.
In the South African Premier Soccer League, Chipolopolo striker Collins Mbesuma was on the losing side as Black Aces lost 1-0 to champions Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday night at FNB Stadium.
A first half header by Camaldine Abraw saw Chiefs make it two wins against Black Aces in less than a week.