Zambia coach Herve Renard has revealed that he will use the friendly match against India to try out new players and a few youngsters from the U20 national team at senior level.
The Indian team is scheduled to take on the African visitors on November 29 in the run-up to the SAFF Cup 2011, while the Zambians are preparing their team for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2012.
“Every time spent with the players is very important. So the games in India will give us some valuable quality time together and for many players to get their fitness levels higher and compete for a place in the squad for the Africa Cup,” Herve Renard stated on the website of the Football Association of Zambia.
“We have two games to play and I will take 20 players so that we have a good chance of seeing many of them,” he added.
The Zambian team, popularly called “Chipolopolo Boys”, might be further strengthened by Russian-based forward Chisamba Lungu.
Frenchman Renard also indicated that he might add one or two regular senior internationals to his squad to face Team India.
“The match has an added significance because not only will we have access to some fine training facilities, we will take the match seriously because they have been filed with FIFA and will therefore count towards our Coca-Cola FIFA rankings,” FAZ Communications Manager Erick Mwanza told.
“The team will set the camp on the 20th of November and leave for India on the 23rd,” Mwanza concluded.
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ZAMBIA SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Kalililo Kakonje (no club), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos)
Defenders
Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Daudi Musekwa (Zesco United), Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United), Hichani Himonde (TP Mazembe), Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes), Oswald Kalamba (St Eloi Lupopo), Lawrence Chungu (Power Dynamos), Stephen Kabamba (Zesco United)
Midfielders
Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), Jonas Sakuwaha (El Merriekh, Sudana), Thomas Nyirenda (Konkola Blades), Nathan Sinkala (Green Buffaloes), Joseph Sitali (Power Dynamos), Emmanuel Chimpinde (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Felix Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Rodrick Kabwe (Kabwe Warriors)
Forwards
Evans Kangwa (Nkana), Ronald Kampamba (Nkana), Luka Lungu (Power Dynamos), Alfred Luputa (Zesco United)