Zambia national team head coach Avram Grant remains unfazed by the absence of key players ahead of tonight’s friendly against Russia in Moscow.
Grant traveled with a 19-man squad, missing key figures such as top scorer and Leicester City forward Patson Daka, captain Lubambo Musonda, Stopilla Sunzu, Obino Chisala, Kelvin Kampamba, Frankie Musonda, and Lecce’s Lameck Banda.
The absences stem from various reasons, including visa issues and clubs refusing to release players.
“They couldn’t come because of visa problems. They were on the list and I don’t know what happened—some technical problems,” Grant said during a pre-match press conference.
He continued: “Yes, we don’t have some strong players that I would like to see on the pitch, but we’ve been in this situation before. In our last match against the African Cup winners, Ivory Coast, we were six players short, but we fought well and the team showed fighting spirit, which I hope we can show tomorrow [today].”
Kangwa focused on Russia friendly
Chipolopolo midfielder Kings Kangwa, who began his career in Europe with Russia’s Arsenal Tula, expressed his happiness at returning but emphasized his focus on tonight’s game, declining to comment on rumours about a potential return to Russia.
“It’s very nice to return to this city, the place where I lived. I know the city; I know the country. Yes, for some of our guys, it’s chilly here, but for me,e it’s all familiar and I feel great,” the Hapoel Be’er Sheva F.C midfielder said.
“I think it is right now to focus on the Zambian national team and tomorrow’s game. Tomorrow we must go out on the field and show everything we are capable of. So now is not the time to talk about anything else.”
This will mark only the second encounter between Zambia and Russia. Their first meeting took place on July 31, 1980, during the Moscow Olympics, where Zambia lost 3-1 to the Soviet Union. Godfrey Chitalu scored Zambia’s sole goal in that match.
READ MORE: HH Expects Zambia to Beat Russia on Tuesday
