Heed Patrice advice

SOCCER REVIEW with STEPHEN PHIRI
NATIONAL team coach Patrice Beaumelle has put his foot down, and firmly so.
Beaumelle wants all the Chipolopolo stars (or should I just say players), to be playing regularly at their clubs to be considered for the 2015 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
This stance will make national team players ‘wake up’.
The established players will realise that there are some upcoming players, who are knocking on the door.
Indeed, national team positions are not personal-to-holder.
Beaumelle means well and it is up to the players to fight for regular playing time at their clubs.
Beaumelle said: “I went to see Christopher Katongo, who is training with Green Buffaloes on Wednesday and I told him that if he does not find a club he should sign in Zambia and play competitive football. I respect every player. He can be my friend outside the pitch but on the pitch, I want to bring the best Chipololopo line-up and to have the best bench.”
Having been knocked out in the group stage at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, Beaumelle wants to mould a team that will challenge for the trophy next year.
Beaumelle knows what he wants to achieve with the Chipolopolo.
After all he has been with the team since 2008 and assisted compatriot Herve Renard to guide the Chipolopolo to success at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
The stance Beaumelle has taken will make the national team competitive.
I want to see the fighting spirit of 2012 back into the Chipolopolo.
Renard and his players triumphed in Libreville because of hardwork.
Having failed to qualify for the 2014 Brazil World Cup finals, winning the 2015 Africa Cup will be a consolation.
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The CAF Champions League gets underway this weekend and our envoys Nkana will be away to Swazi outfit Mbabane Swallows.
My appeal to Nkana is not to underrate Swallows in preliminary round first leg.
Swallows will be playing in front of their fans and could unleash the unthinkable if treated with kid gloves.
Football has changed and gone are the days of winning matches days before the battle.
Nkana should face Swallows with respect and at the same time aim to win by a cricket margin so that they make the return leg a formality.
All the best Nkana.
sphiri@daily-mail.co.zm