DRC-based star called
DRC-based star called 24.12.09
By ROBINSON KUNDANATIONAL team coach Herve Renard has summoned little-known Democratic Republic of Congo-based striker Chijoka Nyirenda to the provisional team preparing for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations that kicks off on January 10 in Angola.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications officer Erick Mwanza said in Lusaka yesterday that Renard wants to have a look at the FC Lupopo striker before he can pick his final team for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mwanza said Nyirenda has already joined the team and is competing well for the final places with other members of the provisional squad.
He said Nyirenda was one of the top strikers at Lupopo, hence the decision to call him to the team.
“Chijoka mentioned that he has been invited for trials in Egypt and Europe but the coach decided that he should join camp so that he can be assessed,” Mwanza said.
He said Nyirenda has been one of the most consistent strikers at Lupopo, who will play in the Champions League next year.
He said the coach wants to have a look at as many players as possible for him to have a wide selection.
Mwanza said Renard has hinted that he might call two more players before the team leaves for South Africa where they will set up a training base before the Africa Cup.
Chijoka played for newly-promoted Division Two (North) side Zacks United and Super Division side Nchanga Rangers before trekking to DR Congo.
With only three weeks remaining before the Africa Cup in Angola, Renard is yet to establish a squad and has called about 32 players in his provisional squad.
Meanwhile, the team has continued training behind closed doors at Licef School in Lusaka.
Guards manning the gate at Licef barred journalists from entering the school premises, saying they were instructed not to allow anyone inside by the national team technical bench.
“The problem in this country is that journalists want to write every time. Sometimes they write bad things. This is very bad. I am a journalist myself,” the guard said in halting English before drifting into Nyanja, which he spoke fluently.
The team is expected to leave on Saturday for South Africa where professionals will join them.
Zambia are in Group D with Cameroon, Gabon and Tunisia.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
