Zambia ready for Harambee Stars, says coach

Zambia coach Herve Renard has said Chipolopolo Boys are ready to take on Kenya’s Harambee Stars in the CECAFA tournament opener match next Saturday.

In an interview in Lusaka, a day after his Chipolopolo Boys beat 2010 World Cup bound North Korea – 4, 1 – in a friendly match in Lusaka, Renard said the victory boosted the morale of the players ahead of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations in neighbouring Angola next year.

“We played yesterday (Saturday) against North Korea at home. So, for CECAFA we start training tomorrow (Sunday). We will be in Kenya next Saturday; we will play against Kenya at home. I hope this tournament will be well organised because last year we were in Uganda in Jinja it was not very good. It will be in Nairobi this year so I hope that it will be better and I am sure it will be better,” Renard said.

Asked if his team will beat Kenya, the Frenchman responded: “Kenya wants to beat Zambia and Zambia wants to beat Kenya; this is football. We will see when we are playing the game. We will see the opponent. I can’t talk before; we can only talk on the pitch.”

Zambia has been drawn against host Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti in Group A of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

Zambia and Kenya will open the CECAFA tournament at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on November 28, 2009.

Renard said beating Kenya and winning the CECAFA cup would give his lads impetus as they prepare for the CAN cup 2010 in Angola.

“Yes. Of course! The boost is for the player. Everybody will fight for (a place in) the squad to go to the Africa Cup of Nations,” said Renard in Lusaka.
He said Zambia’s 4-1 bashing of North Korea had inspired his players.

“…especially that North Korea qualified for the World Cup,” Renard said. “(Our) three (professional) players were there; two from South Africa and one from Portugal but they won’t be there for the CECAFA. It will be a different team and now is the different target is to get good results and to see if some players are able to play for the future for the national team. It will be good for the future.”

In the Africa Cup of Nations draws announced last Friday, Zambia is in group D together with heavyweight Cameroon, Tunisia and Gabon.