Article Feature: The Current State of Emergency
Article Feature: The Current State of Emergency
I am a devoted supporter who has been following the Zambian National team since they were known as KK11 back in 1991. I am writing to express my profound concern about the current state of affairs within the national team.
Zambia is currently blessed with a wealth of top-quality talent, boasting a cadre of explosive and dynamic players.
Over the past five years, the integration of the 2017 AFCON U-20 champions has contributed to the team’s depth. Despite this, our track record includes only one successful AFCON qualification in three attempts and two unsuccessful attempts at World Cup qualifications.
We are currently on our fourth foreign coach, with intermittent stints from local coaches.
While recent moments, particularly in the AFCON 2024 and early WC 2026 qualifiers, showcased improved team performance, credit is often attributed to the 2022 WC qualifiers under local coach Beston Chambeshi.
The team faced numerous challenges during this period, including the premature retirement of Zambia’s captain, Enock Mwepu, poor refereeing decisions, injuries, and red cards.
Motivated by these injustices, the players rallied and delivered composed and determined performances, leading to relative success.
The current head coach, Avram Grant, has notably reintroduced veteran central defender Stophira Sunzu. While Sunzu’s inclusion is not problematic, my concern lies in Grant consistently starting him in every match instead of leveraging his experience from the bench.
This approach hinders the development of younger players in that position, jeopardizing the future of the team.
The heart of the matter is team development, a primary reason for seeking foreign coaches. Losing Enock Mwepu, a key player in the middle of the pitch, left a significant void. Grant’s attempts to find a replacement, such as Kelvin Kampamba and Kelvin Kapumbu, lack consistency and structure.
There is a noticeable absence of improvement in the team’s ability to play possession and controlling football.
Recent performances, especially in the last four matches, including a WC qualifier loss to Niger, a loss to Morocco, and two barely secured draws in AFCON, highlight significant shortcomings in Zambia’s offensive and defensive strategies. These issues are particularly concerning as the team continues its WC qualifying campaign.
The hiring of foreign coaches by FAZ President Andrew Kamanga has been a lengthy process, and the current situation calls for urgent action.
While retaining Grant may be viewed as necessary for the promising WC campaign, the evident lack of on-field success during Kamanga’s tenure raises concerns about his legacy.
I believe it is crucial to find a coach who meets specific criteria: a focus on technical and tactical aspects, a commitment to youth development, and a clear vision for the team’s journey.
Zambia’s players deserve consistent progression, resilience, and understanding, qualities that a well-placed coach can instill.
The current standard of results and declining level of play cannot be accepted. Urgent action is needed to address the state of emergency in Zambia’s football.
While I may not be in Kamanga’s position to make decisions, I strongly advocate for considering the players’ views and exploring emergency coaching options during Ivory Coast’s AFCON 2024.
Zambia’s historic dream of debuting in the World Cup remains unfulfilled, and it’s time to take decisive steps to rectify the situation.
