STRIKERS WORRY CHIYANGI

MICHAEL MIYOBA writes @SunZambian FORMER National team coach Aggrey Chiyangi says the Zambia National Soccer team has been suffering because of the lack of lethal strikers in the Zambian league. Speaking after Green Eagles held ZescoUnited to a goalless draw at Independence Stadium in Choma, the Green Eagles gaffer said Zambia has a very big challenge because of the lack of lethal strikers. Chiyangi who won the 2019 COSAFA Senior Championship as Chipolopolo caretaker coach before he was replaced by Serbian Miluttin “Micho” Sredojevic said the concerns at Green Eagles where players fail to find the back of the net is a national challenge. Chiyangi said there is need for local players to step up instead of relying on foreign players for goals during crucial matches. “We have a very big challenge not only as a club but as a country. We have very few strikers who are lethal. What I mean by lethal, is that when a striker gets three chances, he scores two he can miss one but two go in. That is where we are lacking and that is why even our national team is suffering. “We should not just be waiting for those playing outside Zambia. We should have players in the local league who are top strikers, so this is a very big problem for the country,” Chiyangi said. Meanwhile, Chiyangi is upbeat Green Eagles will get a positive result when they face Cottonsport FC from Cameroon despite having struggled with two draws and one defeat in the last three Super Division fixtures. Chiyangi who is expecting a different game compared to local fixtures, said Eagles will plan and prepare well especially in the striking department for the Cameroonians before the two teams face off in a CAF Confederations Cup first leg fixture on Wednesday. “The CAF game will be different and the only thing you need to understand is that we will be playing a different team outside Zambia not like the way we played against Zesco where players know each other. The game we will play on Wednesday will be different,” Chiyangi said. He noted that Cotonsport are not pushovers hence the need for Eagles to prepare adequately for the crucial fixture.