Posts in category: Uncategorized

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

FOREST Rangers coach Mwenya Chipepo says he is disappointed that his team failed to qualify for the lucrative Absa Cup after missing out on a top six finish in the first round of the MTN Zambia Super League. 

As defending champions, Forest Rangers missed out on the 2024 edition of the tournament after finishing the first half of the 2023/2024 football season on ninth position on the Super League table with 24 points collected from five wins, eight draws and four defeats. 

Chipepo, who ditched Power Dynamos to join the Ndola outfit said he was determined to ensure that Forest Rangers qualify for the ABSA Cup to have a chance of defending it. 

Speaking after the goalless draw against Kansanshi Dynamos on Sunday in Chingola, Chipepo said Forest Rangers would shift its focus to ensuring that it does well during the second half of the Super League. 

“I’m very disappointed because we were supposed to defend the Absa Cup and I’m sure our fans are very disappointed as well. Going into the second round of the league we just have to fight because the league is still open. We just have to make sure that at least we prepare the team for the second round,” Chipepo said. 

GOVERNMENT has urged the church to take advantage of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and other empowerment programmes.

…as Chipolopolo regroup to intensify AFCON preps 

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says the Chipolopolo boys will play an international friendly match against Cameroon on January 9 to prepare for the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations slated for next month in Ivory Coast. 

The Avram Grant-tutored Chipolopolo boys are set to regroup in Lusaka today as preparations for AFCON intensify. 

FAZ president Andrew Kamanga said Zambia will play two international friendly matches before the AFCON in Ivory Coast. 

“The technical bench has rolled out a preparatory programme that will see the team head to Saudi Arabia for a slightly above 10-day intense training camp. We are lucky that some foreign-based players will be available to join both the local and international camp as we prepare for the tournament,” Kamanga said.  

“We will play an international friendly match against Cameroon on January 9 and have another game lined up that we will announce in due course. Our team is expected to leave for Saudi Arabia on January 1. 

Going by the CAF prescribed roadmap, the provisional squad will be down to 27 on January 3. We can only urge the fans to support the technical bench and squad in their quest to propel our team to glory,” Kamanga said. 

He added that FAZ has been engaging other stakeholders to widen possibilities around making the AFCON experience an unforgettable journey. 

“The corporate world has been encouraged to take up some aspects of sponsorship which could not be restricted to supporting the team but also fan engagement. There are a few opportunities that we hope will culminate in having a more solid fan base on the ground in San Pedro. We are using the remaining window to ensure that we solidify support towards the AFCON campaign outside the traditional sponsors,” Kamanga said. 

Meanwhile, Kamanga saluted Copper Queens star Rachel Kundananji for becoming the first African to win the Goal50 award. 

Kamanga is confident that a Zambian will soon win the Women’s football top prize having also witnessed Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda and Grace Chanda finishing in the top three of the last two additions of the CAF football awards. 

“In 2022 we had Grace Chanda making the top three finish which makes us believe we are not too far from claiming the top prize. There is no reason to doubt that after playing at the Olympics, won bronze at the WAFCON, and featured at the 2022 FIFA World Cup the Copper Queens can stand toe-to-toe with any team in the world,” Kamanga said. 

By NATION REPORTER

ZAMBIA Must Prosper vice president, Milner Katolo, says it is unfortunate that Zambians voted for a motivational speaker.

By CHALWE YAMBAYAMBA

THE Russian Government has donated food stuffs and other necessities to my Father’s House Edu- cation and Training Cen- tre which houses over 70 vulnerable children in Lusaka’s Barlastone com- pound.

Speaking during the donation deputy head of mission at the embassy of Russia Dmitry Yudin said

the donation is aimed at improving the nutrition levels of the children.

He added that the em- bassy is keen on ensuring that every Zambian child has a proper education through ensuring that they are properly fed.

Meanwhile my father’s house founder Emmanu- el Njovu has thanked the Russian Government for the gesture and has since implored other well-wish- ers to come on board.

By GRACE CHAILE

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has applied for the forfeiture to the State of approximately K120 million held in 21 bank accounts, involving an alleged money laundering syndicate run by Nigerians.

By NATION REPORTER

LUSAKA lawyer Celestine Mambula Mukandila has slammed the UPND government for abusing the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says he is saddened by the loss of lives from cholera.

By NATION REPORTER

ILLEGAL miners sneaked into Sensele Mine after breaching security mounted by the Zambia National Service and Zambia Police resulting into a death, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe said yesterday.

By MICHAEL MIYOBA 

CHIPOLOPOLO striker Patson Daka says he is happy to contribute to Leicester City’s success as the former English Premier League champions eye a return to the EPL.

Speaking in an interview after he scored a brace to help Leicester City open a six-point lead at the summit of the English Championship table, Daka said he was focused to score in his fourth start as the Foxes stunned Rotherham United 3-0 on Sunday.

“It feels great (to score), but most importantly it’s about the victory today. We knew that it was going to be a tough game. It’s not easy to play against a backline of five. They’re always compact,” Daka told Leicester City TV.

“All we wanted today was three points, no matter what, and I’m glad I contributed to the team’s victory today. When I knew it was a penalty, I said I was going to take it. My team-mates showed me the confidence. They told me: ‘You have to take it’. I was just focused on scoring, nothing else,” the former Power Dynamos striker said.

Daka added that focusing on one game at the time has been key to Leicester’s success.

 “Going into this game, we were not looking at the Ipswich game to be honest,” the former RB Salzburg striker added.

“We are always focusing on each and every game that’s coming our way. We take each game step by step. Today’s game was the only focus and now we have to focus on Ipswich.”

Meanwhile, Leicester City coach Enzo Maresca feels Patson Daka has merited the opportunity to start in the last four games having waited patiently in the opening months of the season.

“Absolutely he deserved it because he has been three or four months without playing games and kept working hard and he is doing very well.”

Now six points clear of Ipswich, the Foxes have an opportunity to extend the gap to nine if they were to beat the Tractor Boys at Portman Road on Boxing Day.