Windhoek
Zambia’s national senior football team’s coach George Lwandamina, was gracious in defeat, praising the Brave Warriors for their never-say-die-attitude and courageous display in the 2-1 triumph over the Chipolopolos in the CHAN Qualifier, in Windhoek, last weekend.
Lwandamina, a former Mufulira Wanderers defender who used to rub shoulders with one of Namibia’s finest football exports, Boston ‘Ponny’ Likando, predicts a tough match in the decisive second leg in Zambia in less than two weeks.
It was Namibia’s 2nd consecutive win over the mighty Zambians after eliminating the Chipolopolo’s en route to claim the coveted regional COSAFA Senior Challenge in Rustenburg, South Africa, earlier this month. “We started off well and enjoyed a very good first half, only to go into slumber in the second half. But overall, it was a highly competitive tie and I must congratulate Namibia because they came back strongly when it mattered the most.”
He adds that the Warriors were superior in winning the second ball easily, leaving the Zambians with no response to counter their slick passing game while the hosts also dominated play in the middle of the park, but was quick to lay blame on the artificial turf.
“Take nothing away from Namibia they have improved tremendously, technically and tactically and we are fully aware of the danger they could pose in the return leg at home. Nevertheless, our strategy was always to get an away goal, so we managed to achieve that objective which could prove decisive going into the second leg”.
Lwandamina could not rule out changes to his misfiring soldiers and hinted he could be tempted to make reinforcements in the return leg. “We have a lot of good players back home waiting in the wings to be called up and I won’t hesitate to ring changes should the need arise”.
The quite spoken Zambian gaffer spoke highly of former Namibian export Boston Likando. The Caprivian born Likando spent his entire football career at Zambian giants City of Lusaka FC.
“He (Ponny) was a much-adored fellow in Zambia. He was a phenomenal footballer, but honestly speaking, I never knew that he was from Namibia during our playing days”.