The Serb picked 31 players whom five were nominated by the supporters for the upcoming continental competition in Cameroon
Zambia head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has explained why they gave fans a chance to help in the recruitment process of the 31 players heading to the African Nations Championship.
The former SC Villa head coach selected the majority of the players that had been included in the provisional squad and added five from the ‘Fans’ Select’ group.
Zesco United defenders Adrian Chama and Clement Mwape, Zanaco striker Roger Kola, midfielders Spencer Sautu of Power Dynamos and Harrison Chisala of Nkana FC are the players who joined the Chan squad after the fans selected them.
“The kind of competition we are going to needs an injection of maturity, seniority and experience,” Micho said as he unveiled the team.
“We did our own assessment, but we still left supporters to choose them and instead of us rewarding them on past experience, the players proved on the field of play what we spoke about hence we have involved them in our squad.”
The former African champions will be involved in a pre-Chan mini-tournament which will involve Cameroon, Niger and Uganda from January 1 to 7.
Micho’s men are in Group D alongside Namibia, Tanzania and Guinea for the tournament that will run from January 16 to February 10, 2021, in Cameroon.
Tanzania head coach Etienne Ndayiragije has already named his squad that was dominated by local rivals Simba SC and Young Africans (Yanga SC). The selection generated a fierce debate on why Metacha Mnata, the in-form Yanga goalkeeper – was left out.
Zambia Squad:
Goalkeepers: Charles Kalumba (Prison Leopards), Lameck Siame (Kabwe Warriors), Patrick Chooma (KYSA), Richard Nyirenda (Nchanga Rangers),
Defenders: Adrian Chama, Clement Mwape (both Zesco United), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars), Golden Mafwenta (Buildcon), Kondwani Chiboni, Zacharia Chilongoshi, Benson Sakala (all Power Dynamos), Pride Mwansa (Nkwazi),
Midfielders: Amity Shamende (Green Eagles), Albert Kangwanda, Kelvin Kapumbu (both Zanaco), Leonard Mulenga, Jack Chirwa (both Green Buffaloes), Kelvin Kampamba, Bruce Musakanya (both Zesco United), Spencer Sautu, Chaniza Zulu (both Power Dynamos), Harrison Chisala (Nkana), Collins Sikombe (Lusaka Dynamo), Paul Katema, Felix Bulaya (both Red Arrows),
Strikers: Emmanuel Chabula (Lusaka Dynamos), Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes), Moses Phiri, Roger Kola (both Zanaco).