The Zambia Senior National Team has intensified its training camp at the Nkoloma stadium as players focus on physical conditioning and discipline, ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The National Team Head Coach George Luwandamina, explained that the current training camp serves as the first phase of preparations, bringing together locally based players while awaiting the arrival of foreign based professionals.
“This is an initial camp, so we’ve gotten players, those who went to Botswana and those who went to Argentina, with one inclusion from Nkana,” Luwandamina said.
With FIFA regulations allowing foreign based players to join only two weeks before official matches, the ongoing local camp presents domestic players with a valuable opportunity to impress and earn places in the final squad.
Luwandamina revealed that fitness assessments showed many players are still regaining full match sharpness after pre-season programmes largely focused on aerobic endurance
Meanwhile, National team’s Forward Golden Mashata described a national team call-up as every player’s dream and stated the importance of maintaining high standards.
“Every Zambian player waits for the call-up but I think enough is not the limit. As players and as a group we need to push more,” Mashata said.
He added that the healthy competition within the squad is driving everyone to perform at their best as the team aims to finish top of its qualification group.
Further more Midfielder Nduna Zulu re-echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the intense competition for places in the team.
“Competition here is very high, so we just need to push hard,” Zulu said.
He emphasized that discipline, commitment and continued support from the fans will be crucial as Zambia pursues qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.