Last week a panel of experts comprising FAZ representatives, the government, and the Zambia Football coaches Association (ZAFCA) came up with a ten-man shortlist out of the over 100 that applied for the Chipolopolo coaching job which fell vacancy after the resignation of Croatian gaffer Aljosa Asanovic.
However FAZ president Andrew Kamanga has this morning said, “the selection for the next Chipolopolo coach is underway with the candidates now down to three.”
Several reports indicate that the last three include Wedson Nyirenda, Hounor Janza and Avram Grant.
Nyirenda who is currently based in Mozambique and coaching Clube Ferroviário da Beira said on the Back page show on Radio Christian Voice that he is ready to take the job and render service to the country.
“Firstly I am very humbled and so overwhelmed by the Zambian people for giving me the vote of confidence to be the Chipolopolo coach once more, I think Zambians have looked around the things that have been happening to our game, I feel humbled and happy to have my own people backing me,” he said
Nyirenda whose last stint with the national team saw him finish second in Group B of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers ahead of Cameroon and Algeria and below Nigeria has assured fans that his ultimate goal is to qualify Zambia for the Africa Cup and the next FIFA World Cup once appointed as Chipolopolo coach.
“Having won the Afcon in 2012, we automatically sealed the thought in our fans that we are supposed to be at every AFCON, but that’s not the case now,” he said. “Once I’m appointed as the coach I aim to take the Chipolopolo Boys to the AFCON and possibly even do the unthinkable qualify the team for a maiden World cup, especially the next world cup, we just have to go and planning must start now.”
The Football association of Zambia is now expected to announce the next Chipolopolo coach and says, “we expect the Chipolopolo coach will be in place in good time to help us prepare for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.”
