Former national team coach Patrick Phiri says the best person to talk about the national team’s poor run of results is Frenchman Herve Renard.
And Phiri says he has settled well at Super Division side Green Buffaloes since taking over during the off season break.
Phiri told bolazambia.com that he was reluctant to talk about the national team but indicated that local coaches had given the national coach their support.
The 2012 Africa Cup winning coach has come under-fire from Zambian fans with sports minister Chishimba Kambwili having branded the team’s performance as “rubbish”.
“As for now I think the best person to talk about the national team is coach Herve Renard,” said the widely respected gaffer.
“Of course, we are here as coaches in the premier league and have given him all the support.”
Phiri, who has been twice senior national team coach and credited for the success of the 1999 Under-20 group who made the World Cup, is currently tutoring army side Green Buffaloes.
He said his stay at the army side has started on a bright note.
“I must say that I am very happy here, everything is going on well,” he said.
“The preparation (pre-season) was very good, we went to Mozambique prior to the season to play a tournament we were invited by Matchedje Football Club and it was a very high profile tournament. We came out as champions.”
On their start to the league, Phiri says, “We started with a draw against Napsa Stars and last week we were playing Konkola Mine Police. The good thing is we managed to win and the boys are in high spirits and everything is on track. Basically, we are very happy and we are going out for a win at Lime in Ndola.”
Phiri was Napsa Stars coach at the beginning of last season before parting ways in the second half of the league.
He had a decent stint in the first stretch of the league qualifying Napsa to the Barclays Cup competition which they won albeit under his successor and former assistant Peter Kaumba.
Green Buffaloes this weekend travel to Ndola where they face Ndola Lime.
FAZ Week Three Fixtures
Super Division
Napsa Vs Konkola Mine Police
Rangers Vs Roan
Warriors Vs Arrows
Nkana VS Kalulushi
Nkwazi Vs Power
Lime Vs Buffaloes
Blades Vs Zesco Utd