Zambia sports minister and players upbeat

NATIONAL team players are confident of beating Ghana in the crucial 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier in Kumasi on September 8.

Ghana dislodged the Chipolopolo from the summit of Group D on Sunday after beating Lesotho 2-0 at Setsoto National Stadium in Maseru. Defender Kondwani Mtonga said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that nothing is impossible in football.

“We will apply ourselves when we play Ghana. We know it is a must-win match. In football you have to believe in yourself and we believe in ourselves,” said Mtonga, who partnered Hichani Himoonde in central defence in the World Cup matches against Lesotho and Sudan. The Zesco United player urged fans to continue rallying behind the team. He said the Chipolopolo are still in contention to progress to the last round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana has 12 points, one better than rivals Zambia. Lesotho and Sudan have two points apiece.

Mtonga said he will work hard to have a permanent position in Herve Renard’s squad.

“It is a good experience to play for the national team,” he said. Striker Jacob Mulenga said Zambia has a chance to salvage victory in the match against Ghana.

“My focus now is on our next game against Ghana. It won’t be easy but our chances of qualifying for the World Cup are still bright,” said Mulenga, who plies his trade for Dutch side FC Utrecht.

Mulenga scored three goals in the two matches – two in the 4-0 bashing of Lesotho on June 8 and in the 1-1 draw with Sudan. Another striker Collins ‘King David’ Mbesuma said there is need to prepare adequately for the match against Ghana. “We need to prepare adequately for our next game against Ghana. We will go to Ghana to prove ourselves that we are a better team by winning. We have beaten Ghana before so they are not a threat to us,” Mbesuma said. And Football Association of Zambia communications manager Erick Mwanza said the Chipolopolo will approach the match against Ghana with a winning attitude.

Mwanza said following the Black Stars’ victory in Lesotho, the Chipolopolo will travel to Kumasi to collect maximum points.

“For us to qualify for the World Cup, we need to beat the best team. The best teams are not Lesotho and Sudan but Ghana. It is a 50-50 match but we know the strategy to employ in Kumasi,” he said.

Mwanza said qualifying for the World Cup is not easy and the Chipolopolo need to summon all their energies to make history.

“We are going to Kumasi knowing what we need to do. Everybody has to do their part. Ghana will be playing for a draw but we will be playing for a win,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Sport and Youth Chishimba Kambwili is also hopeful that Zambia will qualify to the last round.

Kambwili said the Chipolopolo has beaten Ghana twice in the last one year and will once more go past the West Africans.

Kambwili said this on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Sunday Interview programme.

Zambia beat Ghana 1-0 in the semi-finals at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Bata, Equatorial Guinea and another 1-0 in the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on June 9, 2012. “I am very confident that Ghana will fall in Kumasi. We have beaten Ghana before. We beat them at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium during these qualifiers, we also beat them at the Africa Cup of Nations. And maybe you have forgotten, we defeated Ghana in Kumasi when we qualified for the 1988 Olympics the time Kalusha Bwalya made a name as Kalusha Bwalya. This was the last time we qualified for the Olympics.

“So what is so difficult that we can’t beat Ghana? We have everything on our disposal. We have money, good players, a good coach, and above all divine intervention. There is nothing wrong in asking God to lead us because we are a Christian nation and we must behave like Christians. We thank God for the 1-all draw against Sudan and I have faith that we will win the next game. If God is for us, who can be against us,” Kambwili asked.

He said the government will provide resources to ensure the national team is adequately prepared for the match against Ghana. Kambwili also said hosting the 2013 Council for Southern Africa Football Associations Castle Senior Challenge Cup will help Zambia shape up for the must-win match in Kumasi.