Chipolopolo Vice Captain Kampamba Chintu who was on Tuesday dropped [due to injury] from the final 23 man squad which will represent Zambia at the Orange/CAF African Cup of Nations will be part of the team at the tournament but in a different role
According to the ZamFoot Crew insiders the injured veteran defender that the 2012 hasn’t left the African Champions’ training base in South Africa as award winning coach Herve Renard considers him an invaluable member of the team and technical bench had no option but to rope him in as part of the technical team after he failed a fitness test owing to a pulled muscle
“As you might be aware Renard values the contribution elder statesmen like Chintu and Noah Chivuta. When he was struggling with the injury, everyone knew that he won’t make it but as expected the boss has roped him in,” a source said.
“Everyone in camp is happy that Modibo will be part of the team. He is the captain off field and a real team player. Whenever a young player is down, he is always there encouraging and making sure there’s that team spirit. He is a leader. Ask anyone in camp…he is the first when it comes to team meetings and prayers.
FAZ Communications Manager Erick Mwanza unveiling the Chipolopolo replica
The former Kabwe Warriors defender and a member of that famed class of ’99 that included Emmanuel Zulu, Ian Bakala, Gift Kampamba, Ronald Mbambara, Andrew Sinkala and Bernard Makufi is expected to sit on the bench when Zambia host Noway on Saturday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in a penultimate match before the opening match against Ethiopia at the AFCON.
Both Zambia and Norway will fly straight from South Africa and arrive at Ndola’s Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe international airport tomorrow [Friday].
Meanwhile the Chipolopolo Boys will be glad in the new jersey against the Scandinavians though it is not clear if it is the same with new Chipolopolo replica which is set to go on sale next week.
Zambianfootball.co