Sports / Soccer
Zambia to lodge a complaint over Zimbabwe under 23 squad
25 Jan 2011 at 11:55hrs | Views
ZAMBIA says it will lodge in a formal complaint over Zimbabwe Under-23 soccer squad use of four over-aged players during the 2011 All-Africa Games qualifiers that saw the Young Warriors advancing to the next stage, winning 4-3 on aggregate.
Zambian team manager, Jeff Chipilingu said Zambia played the Sunday match under protest as Zimbabwe used over-aged players in a tournament meant for players under the age of 23.
He said that the matter was discussed during the pre-match meeting where the Zambian delegation expressed their concerns on the use of some players by their hosts and made it clear that the team would play the match under protest.
Zambian coach Msiska conceded that the game was lost in the first leg where his team was beaten 2-3 on home soil, but expressed happiness that the squad had improved on the performance which he said would help him build on for the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers.
Zimbabwean coach, Friday Phiri said his team won the match in Lusaka and deserved to qualify for the next stage to play the winner of the Swaziland and Botswana encounter.
Phiri said Zambia was a good side and had always been superior in football and it had potential to do well in the Olympics qualifiers.
"Football is a funny game and you saw that my team played well in the first half but lost momentum while Zambia came into the second half strongest but again the first leg for was the decider," Phiri said.
Zambian team manager, Jeff Chipilingu said Zambia played the Sunday match under protest as Zimbabwe used over-aged players in a tournament meant for players under the age of 23.
He said that the matter was discussed during the pre-match meeting where the Zambian delegation expressed their concerns on the use of some players by their hosts and made it clear that the team would play the match under protest.
Zambian coach Msiska conceded that the game was lost in the first leg where his team was beaten 2-3 on home soil, but expressed happiness that the squad had improved on the performance which he said would help him build on for the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers.
Zimbabwean coach, Friday Phiri said his team won the match in Lusaka and deserved to qualify for the next stage to play the winner of the Swaziland and Botswana encounter.
Phiri said Zambia was a good side and had always been superior in football and it had potential to do well in the Olympics qualifiers.
"Football is a funny game and you saw that my team played well in the first half but lost momentum while Zambia came into the second half strongest but again the first leg for was the decider," Phiri said.
Source - Byo24News
