Zambia To Miss Foreign Pros For Friendly Against North Korea

Zambia will be without most of their overseas-based professionals for Saturday's friendly against World Cup finalists North Korea. Several of the nation's stars have pulled out because it does not fall within the FIFA window allowed for such games.

French coach Herve Renard has called up a dozen South Africa-based players, including Clifford Mulenga and Collins Mbesuma, but it appears only two foreign pros, Armenia-based defender Emmanuel Mbola and China-based striker James Chamanga, are set to feature against the North Koreans.

A highly placed source has told Zambianfootball. net that it was known that the game would be played on a non-FIFA calendar day and the foreign-based players would not be released.

”It was a matter of trying to secure the foreign-based players, otherwise we knew they would not be released, even if their clubs were engaged because it was entirely their discretion,” disclosed the source.

”We shall use the local players most likely, and this will prepare them for the CECAFA.”

The friendly will be played at Nkoloma Stadium and not Independence Stadium, which is still being renovated.

The game will form part of Zambia's preparations for next year's Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Samm Audu, Goal.com