AFTER weeks of intensive preparations, champions Zambia yesterday finally set off for their Orange 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final base in Nelspruit, South Africa, with the players confident of retaining the continental title.
The 23-man Chipolopolo, who wound up their preparatory matches against Norway at the weekend, left for the Afcon aboard a South Africa Airlink lunch-time flight from Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola with FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya and committee member Pivoty Simwanza.
Before departure, the players signed autographs for some enthusiastic fans who also posed for pictures with their favourite Chipolopolo stars.
Defender Stoppila Sunzu, who is expected in England today to complete his move to Premiership side Reading from TP Mazembe in DR Congo, said the Chipolopolo had the character to defend the Afcon championship and that the team spirit was the major driving force.
Sunzu, however, said the tournament would be tough but with the kind of preparations the team had gone through, he was confident that the Chipolopolo were ready to rumble again. He emphasised on a good start to the campaign.
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene said the squad knew what was at stake and that the players had been working hard to ensure a good output at the Afcon.
Having won the 2012 Afcon title against all odds, Mweene said Zambia was now a team to beat and that the squad would be ready to face the new challenges in South Africa.
“Team spirit helped us win the Afcon last year. We work for each other,” the first-choice goalkeeper said.
Midfielder William Njobvu, who missed the 2012 final due to injury, said he was happy to be back in the fold and that the Chipolopolo were eager to do Zambia proud again.
“We have the confidence to defend the title. Without the confidence, I would have stayed back,” Njobvu, who last played at the Afcon in 2010, said. – Times of Zambia
