Bereaved Chama withdraws from Chipolopolo friendlies

by Staff Reporter

Sunday May 30, 2021. 15:00

Simba SC midfielder Clatous Chama has withdrawn from June’s three-match international friendly tour after losing his wife.

Chama’s wife passed away on May 29 in Kitwe.

FAZ spokesperson Sydney Mungala said the entire Zambian football family is gutted by the news.

“It is a very sad development especially at a time when we were banking on him to be a leader on this assignment in the absence of some Euro-based players. He was earmarked to be the star of the flock. He has naturally been excused from the friendlies,” Mungala told AF.

The Tanzanian-based midfielder was one of fourteen foreign-based call-ups Chipolopolo coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic had summoned for the away friendlies against Senegal, Benin and Sudan.

Micho had earlier excused midfielder Enock Mwepu and striker Patson Daka of Austrian champions RB Salzburg to attend to prospective summer window transfer obligations.

Also left out of the tour is striker Fashion Sakala who has just completed his transfer from KV Oostende in Belgium to Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.

Meanwhile, 21 home-based plus some early foreign-based arrivals entered camp on May 27 in Lusaka ahead of the June 5 friendly against Senegal in Thies and Benin on June 8 in Cotonou.

Zambia will face Sudan in their final game on June 11 at Omdurman.