Kambole Ends Chipolopolo Exile

PIC COURTESY OF ZESCO UNITED MEDIA

Striker  Lazarus Kambole headlines  Avram Grant's first local picks for this month’s 2023 AFCON qualifier dates against Lesotho in his 27-member provisional team the new  Chipolopolo coach unveiled on  March 9.

Grant will name his foreign-based call-ups next week for Zambia's 2023 AFCON Group H doubleheader qualifier against Lesotho on March 23 at home in Ndola and away on March 27 in Johannesburg.

Kambole returns to the Chipolopolo fold after a four-year hiatus that was compounded by a forgettable three-year stay at South African club Kaizer Chiefs whom he joined in 2019 from Zesco United.

He left Chiefs last year to join Young Africans of Tanzania where he also struggled to adopt.

But Kambole’s recall comes after an explosive start at Zesco where he is on a six-month loan deal from Young Africans.

Kambole has so far scored four goals in three games but is currently on a three-match drought from an overall six games played since rejoining Zesco in January.

Grant has also named another returnee from the South African league.

Ex-Orlando Pirates and Amazulu midfielder Augustine Mulenga who returned home last October after four years away in South Africa, has made the team.

The Napsa Stars player Mulenga returns after a year and a half that was mostly due to injuries.

But there is no place for striker Justin Shonga who has enjoyed some modest form at Nkwazi since rejoining them last  September after five years abroad in South Africa plus a brief stint in Egypt.

Shonga has so far scored six goals at Nkwazi who are currently fighting relegation in the FAZ Super League with eight games left to play.

Meanwhile, the Lesotho game will mark Grant’s debut match in charge following his appointment as Zambia coach over Christmas.

Zambia is third in Group H on 3 points tied with Comoros and is one point behind leaders  Cote d’Ivoire while Lesotho is fourth with 1 point heading in games three and four of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers this month.

Goalkeepers: Allan Chibwe, Cyril Chibwe, Charles Kalumba , Lawrence Mulenga

Defenders : Luka Banda, Dominic Chanda, Aaron Katebe, John Chishimba, Mwila Phiri, Benedict Chepeshi, Killian Kanguluma, Shemmy Mayembe, Gift Mphande , Teddy Khumalo

Midfielders : Oliver Lumbiya, Andrew Mphande, Kelvin Kapumbu, Gideon Sichone, Joshua Mutale, Abraham Siankombo, Augustine Mulenga, Kelvin Kampamba , Charles Zulu

Strikers: Lazarous Kambole, Derrick Bulaya, Joseph Phiri and Andrew Phiri