…Makwaza, Simulambo counsel Katongo
By STEPHEN PHIRI
FORMER national team captains Dickson Makwaza and Jani Simulambo have urged Chipolopolo skipper Christopher Katongo to unite the squad instead of dividing it.
Makwaza said from Luanshya yesterday that it was unfortunate that Katongo discredited striker Evans Kangwa instead of encouraging him.
Nkana forward Kangwa came from the bench to score a brace in the Chipolopolo’s 2-1 win over Uganda in an international friendly at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Wednesday.
Katongo said Kangwa’s splendid performance does not warrant him a place in the national team at the expense of experienced players like him.
“If a young player has performed well, he needs to be encouraged. As skipper, you need to support all the players. As simple as that. He [Katongo] misfired. Such words should not come from the captain,” said Makwaza, who was national team skipper from 1967 to 1975.
He said during his time at the national team he ‘preached’ unity among players.
And Simulambo said Katongo should swallow his pride and apologise to Kangwa and the other young players.
“As captain of the national team, Christopher Katongo must encourage players whether old or young. Everyone must be encouraged. Katongo made a mistake and all of us make mistakes and the best he should do is to apologise,” said Simulambo, who was national team skipper from 1976 to 1982.
He saluted Kangwa for scoring a brace against Uganda.
“Uganda is a strong team and to score two goals against the Cranes, then Kangwa is a good player,” he said.
And CHISHALA MUSONDA reports that former Roan United team manager Nathan Chanda said it is sad for a national team captain to speak ill of other players.
Chanda said Katongo’s words are frustrating to the young and upcoming players, who are the future of the Chipolopolo.
“This makes sad reading especially coming from a captain…he is supposed to be a mentor for the young players. It is sad to see a captain use words that would bring division and also bring down some young players.
“He should not talk about experience. It is the contribution that experienced players make to the team that matters. What was his contribution to the team in the game against Uganda?” the Luanshya mayor asked.
National team manager Lusekelo Kamwambi has jumped to the defence of Katongo, saying the Chipolopolo skipper did not mean to say what he is quoted to have said.
Kamwambi, who has managed Katongo from the days as an under-23 player, believes the player misplaced his words.
“He was trying to throw the ball to the young players to challenge players in the national team,” he said.
Kamwambi said Katongo’s attribution to Nkana were not targeted at Kangwa but picked on the club as a measure of challenge to the younger players to work hard and keep knocking on the doors of the national team.
“Believe me, Chris has always been there to encourage young players who come to the national team. He also buys some of them boots and urges them to even play better and Evans in one of them,” Kamwambi said.
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