Chisi Mbewe, has been handed a huge task of defending the COSAFA title in South Africa starting on June 26.
Mwenya Chipepo is assistant coach and Donewell Yobe will handle the role of physical trainer. Emmanuel Msichili will be the goalkeeper coach, and Lombe Chipupu will be the team manager.
Fresh from winning the double with Red Arrows, Mbewe has named a team comprising local players, with the exception of Albert Kangwanda, the only foreign-based player in the squad. He has also roped in two young players from the U-20 team, Mathews Banda and Sekanji Siame.
The squad boasts enough firepower upfront with Andrew Phiri of FC MUZA, Enock Sakala of Zesco United, and Ricky Banda of Red Arrows.
Nchanga Rangers’ keeper Victor Chabu, will face competition from Willard Mwanza of Power Dynamos and Charles Kalumba of Red Arrows.
The midfield will see Red Arrows’ Yusuf Sadam Phiri, who had a good season, supported by FC MUZA’s skipper Kelvin Mwanza and Zesco United’s 19-year-old David Simukonda, among others.
Chisi’s objective is to defend the Cosafa title.
At the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 27, Kenya will play Zambia, the current champions and seven-time COSAFA winners.
On June 30, they face rivals, Zimbabwe and on July 2, and their last Group B match is against Comoros.
(Goalkeepers)
Victor Chabu (Nchanga Rangers), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows)
(Defenders)
Mathews Chabala (Nchanga Rangers), Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors), Chitoshi Chinga, Mathews Banda (both Nkana FC), John Chishimba (Zesco United), Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers), Sekanji Siame (Konkola Blades), Zachariah Chilongoshi (NAPSA Stars), Brian Chilimina (Red Arrows.
(Midfielders)
Dickson Chapa (NAPSA Stars), Frederick Mulambia, Austin Muwowo (both Power Dynamos), Abraham Siankombo, Kelvin Kapumbu, David Simukonda (All Zesco United),.
Others are Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos), Saddam Yusuf Phiri (Red Arrows), Kelvin Mwanza (FC MUZA), Charles Majapa Mumba (Green Buffaloes)
(Attackers)
Albert Kangwanda (Al Hilal-Sudan, Andrew Phiri (FC MUZA), Jimmy Mukeya (Kansanshi Dynamos), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Enock Sakala Jr (Zesco United).