Chipolopolo Boys head coach Aljosa Asanovic believes James Chamanga’s presence will help the young players learn the way as they prepare for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
42-year-old is part of Asanovic’s 23 member provisional squad for a local camp ahead of the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group H match against the Elephants on June 3.
Chamanga will also be part of the backroom staff to mentor young players. The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winner helped Red Arrows to their first title since 2004.
“The guy is a top professional, one who many young players can learn from. He will be with us to help show young players the way,” he said.
Asanovic believes the preparations for the first two AFCON qualifiers is on course.
The Crot says he is in touch with Foreign players whose leagues are still on going across the globe ahead of the AFCON qualification campaign.
“Our preparations are on course for the game against Ivory Coast on June 3. We start with the local camp where we are looking at the local players and in touch with foreign players whose leagues are still active,” Asanovic said.
“We know that local players also have a clogged calendar ahead with the CHAN and Cosafa that are coming up. Most importantly, the best of the local players will go with us to Ivory Coast and be part of the June 7 home match against Comoros Islands.”
The Copper Bullets were drawn in group H alongside hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Comoros and Lesotho for the qualifiers of the 34th edition of the international men’s football championship of Africa.
Aljosa Asanovic’s men will start their campaign with an away fixture against the 2015 Champions, Ivory Coast on June 3rd.
The 2012 AFCON Champions will then host Comoros on June 14 before a back-to-back engagement with Lesotho at home on September 19 and in Maseru eight days later.
