Former Zambia international defender Chintu Kampamba supports the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)’s upcoming nationwide trials aimed at finding the next Chipolopolo stars but believes it should be a long-term project.
Last week, FAZ announced that the executive committee approved the country-wide talent identification exercise.
According to a statement from FAZ, the best players selected from the provinces will have a chance to make the national team.
FAZ General Secretary, Reuben Kamanga said, “Following the Executive Committee meeting held on July 19, 2024, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) met to consider a recommendation by the Technical Committee to hold a countrywide player selection exercise.
“The countrywide selection for male players will see two streams of teams converging in Lusaka for Southern, Lusaka, Central, Eastern, and Western provinces, while the other batch will have Copperbelt, North-Western, Northern, Luapula, and Muchinga provinces,” Kamanga explained.
He added: “The best players from the provincial teams will face off with each other, and the best squad will be selected to face the national team in an All Stars Versus the Rest format.”
“It should be a long-term project’- Kampamba
FAZ’s provincial branches have since begun selecting players from their respective districts to participate in the trials.
Kampamba, who was a member of the Chipolopolo squad that won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and is now a technical staff member at National Division One club City of Lusaka, said the idea is welcome but should not be rushed.
“I think it’s a good thing because it’s going to give a chance to almost everyone and players in the rural areas, but for me, it should be a long-term project, not a short-term one that I can say will yield results immediately,” he told BolaNews in an exclusive interview.
Kampamba continued: “There is talent in the rural areas but of course it needs to be nurtured. It’s a platform to showcase talent for many players but it goes back to us having so many Cup games that will include so many teams starting from lower divisions coming up so that it will give an opportunity for players to play in those cup games and have that exposure so that they can spotted by other teams.”
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