The Zambia National Soccer Team will hold its first full training session in Argentina this evening at 22:00 local time (03h00 Zambian time) as preparations gather momentum for Tuesday’s historic clash against World champions Argentina.
The first and larger contingent of the Chipolopolo Boys who arrived in the early hours of Friday after a long haul via Ethiopia, Uganda (refuelling), and São Paulo, dedicated their first morning in Argentina focussing on light gym sessions to ease into the new environment and adjust to the time zone.
The 2012 African champions will train at the Complejo Pedro Pompilio, a training facility for the famous Argentine club Boca Juniors.
The training session will give the team a feel of elite South American football conditions ahead of the Tuesday encounter. The team is camped at Efe Hotel and Cowork in the heart of Buenos Aires.
Head coach George Lwandamina emphasized the importance of adapting to match timing.
“The game will be played at 22:00 hours, which is 03:00 Zambian time. It is important that we get accustomed to those timings.” Lwandamina said.
Meanwhile, FAZ President Keith Mweemba has arrived in Argentina with a smaller contingent of mainly non technical staff that did not travel with the initial group.
The delegation includes Kalusha Bwalya, who is Vice Chairperson of the FAZ Technical Committee, Strikers Coach Noel Mwandila, Team General Manager Charles Chakatazya, FAZ Head of Media Nkweto Tembwe, Assistant Equipment Manager Jimmy Ndhlovu, Head of Security Cephas Munjunga and defender Owen Mwamba.
Mweemba explained the travel arrangement, explaining that the desire is always to travel as one group, but there are issues beyond FAZ control.
“We prioritised players and technical staff to maximise the number of people in the first groupand gain maximum preparation time in Argentina” Mweemba said.
Chipolopolo will face Argentina at the iconic La Bombonera stadium, renowned for its unique design and intense matchday atmosphere.
Head coach Lwandamina has assembled a squad largely made up of local talent, with 18 home based players complemented by seven foreign based players.
Chipolopolo Squad in Argentina:
Goalkeepers
Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos FC)
Mangani Banda (Kabwe Warriors FC)
Victor Chabu (Nchanga Rangers FC)
Defenders
Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers)
Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos FC)
Tinklar Sinkala (Zanaco FC)
Fredrick Mwiimanzi (Zanaco FC)
Brian Chilimina (Red Arrows FC)
Kondwani Chiboni (Power Dynamos FC)
Midfielders
Given Kalusa (FC MUZA)
Kelvin Mwanza (FC MUZA)
Prince Mumba (Power Dynamos FC)
Wilson Chisala (Zanaco FC)
Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos FC)
David Simukonda (Ceramica Cleopatra, Egypt)
Fredrick Mulambia (Power Dynamos FC)
Obino Chisala (Al Merrikh SC)
Forwards
Patson Daka (Leicester City, England)
Chanka Zimba (Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Scotland)
Kingstone Mutandwa (SV Ried, Austria)
Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha FC, Saudi Arabia)
Albert Kangwanda (Red Arrows FC)
Pascal Phiri (Pyramids FC, Egypt)
The post Zambia Arrives in Buenos Aires, Squad To Hold Training Session first appeared on Africa Top Sports.
