Micho relieved after Zambia end winless run

by Staff Reporter

Monday Jun 14, 2021. 17:00

Chipolopolo Zambia coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has commended his players’ resilience on the June tour that finally paid-off on the last day with a victory after three winless friendlies.

Zambia concluded their June international friendly tour on June 13 with a 1-0 away victory over hosts Sudan at Omdurman.

That win came after Zambia kicked off the tour with a 3-1 loss to Senegal on June 5 in Thies, a 2-2 draw against Benin in Cotonou on June 8 and a 3-2 defeat to Sudan on June 11 in a non-classified FIFA date just 24 hours after arriving in Khartoum.

“It is not easy in eight days to play four very tough matches, three of them official friendlies, in Senegal, Benin and once more in Sudan on Sunday after one training match on Friday,” Micho said.

“When we look at everything, we have improved from match-to-match.

“I need to give credit to the players, they have worked very hard respecting the national team jersey, and they have given their best and have been awarded by winning on Sunday.”

Amity Shamende scored the game’s only goal in the 88th minute just two minutes after replacing Buildcon striker Brian Mwila.

It was also the Green Eagles midfielders’ debut Chipolopolo goal.

Micho also saluted his 22-member team that had only four foreign call-ups for a solid display on Sunday that saw Chipolopolo keep a clean sheet for the first time on the tour.

Prior to Sunday’s victory, Chipolopolo had always trailed one-nil in the opening 20 minutes of their first three friendlies.