Zambia’s Chipolopolo draw most of their players from South African clubs. Zambia’s gulf in class is not out of this world. Their domestic league standards are comparatively better to Malawi’s, but modest all the same.
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But attitude and professional organisation set the Chipolopolo apart from the Flames, some analysts have observed in view of the Chipolopolo’s exploits in firing to the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations final in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon.
“We have a lot in common in terms of culture, skill, physique, technique and talent, but the Zambians are more professional than us,” Civo United veteran coach Alex Masanjala observed on Thursday.
In terms of diversity of skill, Rainford Kalaba from a distance looks like Mapopa Msukwa who some perceive as aged football-wise despite that he belongs to football generation of James Sangala and Robert Ng’ambi.
In organisation, the Zambians are clear on who they are developing for what positions. Kalaba has been developed to be the team’s midfield brain since the 2006 Cecafa Senior Cup in Ethiopia where Flames brought players in their twilight such as Simeon Kapuza and Aggrey Kanyenda.
It all starts in the heart of the players complementing a good winning habit in the football board rooms, football administrator, Jimmy Fombe seemed to agree on Thursday.
“Zambians are so professional on their approach to football matters. They strive to raise their game all the time,” noted the former Wanderers official.
Former UFC, Silver Strikers and Admarc Tigers striker Mike Banda attributed the Zambians’ consistent showings to better organisation, strategy, team-work and continuity.
