Former Zambia striker Given Singuluma has shared notes with players vying to represent the country at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which will take place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in August 2025.
Singuluma was a member of Zambia’s squad that competed in the first CHAN tournament, hosted by Ivory Coast in 2009. He scored five goals to help Zambia win the bronze medal.
The former TP Mazembe striker also scored a hat trick in Zambia’s opening 3-0 victory over the hosts, earning top scorer honours and setting a scoring record that was only broken by Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored 8 goals as the Atlas Lions won their first trophy in 2018.
In an interview with BolaNews, Singuluma urged the players who will be chosen to be mentally tough and show character during the tournament.
“My encouragement to the players that will be picked is to believe in themselves, have a strong mentality and character, and be mindful of the fact that African football has improved. There are no easy games at the international level, so we will need to go to CHAN and do well and win it,” he said.
‘Players can get dream transfer offers’ —Singuluma
Singuluma believes that the tournament can help some players land dream transfer offers, but warns against focusing on personal success at the expense of the team.
“As the top scorer of the inaugural CHAN, I went abroad after the tournament, so the players have to put the target of the team ahead of their personal goals and ambitions,” he said. “They must play well, and they will be rewarded; scouts and agents from all over the world will attend the CHAN, so the opportunity will be there to be taken.”
The Chipolopolo Boys were placed in Group A on Wednesday night, alongside Kenya, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola. Singuluma believes that Zambia’s first match will be critical to the team’s progress in the tournament.
“Chances are there to qualify for the next round; what’s important in football is to win; it’s not an easy group; what will help us a lot and set the tone for the tournament is the first game, and we will need to win it no matter the opponents,” he stated.
