Doubts over Zebras/Zambia friendly match

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Friday June 25, 2010 00:00

But by Thursday [yesterday], there were uncertainties surrounding the friendly against Zambia tomorrow.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) public relations and marketing officer, Phakamile Kraai told Mmegi Sport that it is not certain whether the game would take place as Zambia had not confirmed participation. The Zebras returned from Lesotho yesterday.

However, the Lusaka Times reported on Tuesday that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have confirmed their national team will travel to Botswana to face the Zebras in an international friendly on June 27.

'This is after earlier fears that the friendly was in doubt following speculation that the hosts--Botswana --might cancel the game due to logistical problems they were encountering in their two build-up matches against Lesotho and Zambia ahead of their planned departure for Tunisia on June 28,' the newspaper reported.  

The report says that Zambia would travel for the friendly on Thursday [yesterday] by road in what is expected to be Under-23 coach Lucky Msiska's first match in charge of a senior team.

Zambia's Chipolopolo have been in camp in Lusaka since June 18 for the AFCON qualifiers. The team will be without Zanaco players who have a league engagement at home this Saturday against Forest Rangers.

Botswana are using the friendly match to prepare for their 2012 Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group K qualifying match away to Tunisia on July 1.