Soccer
Crocked Chilufya dropped
DEFENDER, George Chilufya, has been dropped from the national football team with an injury and ruled-out of the Africa/World Cup qualifier against Liberia in Lusaka next Saturday.But as Chilufya was leaving for his Ndola side, Zesco United, his clubmate, Joseph Musonda (also a defender), arrived back in camp after undergoing a minor operation.
Both national team doctor, Joseph Kabungo and team manager, Solly Pandor, confirmed Chilufya’s injury, saying it would need some time to heal.
Kabungo explained that Chilufya, who was called to strengthen the defence, tore his right quadriceps (front thigh-muscle) in training and could not play.
“Chilufya is definitely out. He tore his quadriceps. The x-ray shows that he might need a little more time of resting, so he can not play against Rwanda or even Liberia,” he said.
Kabungo said Chilufya would need at least three weeks to recover fully, a situation which forced the technical team to send him home.
Pandor was, however, happy that after Chilufya’s injury, Musonda, who was earlier excused to have an operation and midfielder Numba Mumamba were back in training.
Musonda left camp on Monday soon after reporting to go for surgery in Ndola.
“Numba is fine again. He has recovered and he did train with the team today. So that is another problem solved,” he said.
And the Rwanda national football team arrives in Zambia today for this weekend’s friendly match set for Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe.
In another development, the international friendlies between Zambia and Libya which were scheduled to be held in October have been deferred to late November and early December.
FAZ spokesman, Mwansa Mbulakulima, said the two matches which should have been played on October 16 and 20 will now be held on November 27 and December 1 at Independence stadium.
Mbulakulima said the Libyan Football Federation had requested for a deferment due to the Islamic Ramadan period.
He appealed to the Copperbelt residents to give the national team massive support by turning out in large numbers at the stadium and that gate charges have been pegged at affordable levels.
And the FAZ spokesman said that the planned consultative meeting with the business community gets underway today at the Holiday Inn in Lusaka to explore means and ways of improving cooperation between the business community, other stakeholders and FAZ.
Meanwhile, the Zanaco versus Afrisport and Lime Hotspurs against Kabwe Warriors match of the Coca Cola Cup competition quarter-finals will be played tomorrow while National Assembly and Green Buffaloes on one hand and Red Arrows and Power Dynamos on the other will be played on Sunday.
The Mosi Cup competition fifth round involving Samfya Rockets and Mufulira Wanderers will be played today, while the rest of the matches will be played on Sunday and Wednesday, September 1.
[Times of Zambia]
