Patson Daka talks about Chipolopolo’s historic date against Israel on Thursday and briefly on Enock Mwepu who recently announced his retirement from football on health grounds.
Chipolopolo is in Israel for a debut meeting against their hosts that will be played in Petach Tikva.
This will also be Chipolopolo’s final game in 2022 in what has been a rollercoaster ride for Zambia after starting off with a loss and win in their opening 2023 AFCON qualifiers in June.
July brought better tidings when Zambia lifted the 2022 COSAFA Cup title in Durban following a 1-0 final win over Namibia.
But Mozambique spoilt that party a week later after eliminating Zambia from the 2023 CHAN qualifiers in what was Croat Aljosa Asanovic’s last act as coach barely eight months into a four-year deal.
“Looking at the situation right now where we did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup, I think it is also important that we have this high-profile friendly game,” Daka said.
“I think it is what everyone was looking forward to and everyone is excited about because everyone wants to play against such kind of teams.
“Every game is very important so to have this kind of opportunity is great for every player and the nation.
“We will do our very best and use this challenge as preparation for what we want to do going forward.”
The match will also mark the start of life without 24-year-old midfielder and captain Enock Mwepu.
LIFE WITHOUT MWEPE ON THE PITCH
Mwepu has retired from the game after the medical team at his English club Brighton diagnosed him with a hereditary heart condition.
Daka and Mwepu come a long way from Under-17 when they become the first Zambian team to qualify for U17 AFCON in 2015 that they topped up with a debut U20 AFCON triumph as tournament hosts in 2017.
“To be honest it is a very personal issue and it would be very unfair to delve into the details about it but right now it is time for us to give him all the support in every way we can to him,” Daka said.
“We know how important he is to us even when he is not here but we still feel his presence because he is always in contact with us and we are in touch with him.
“So we are just going to be there for him as he has been for us.”
Meanwhile, Zambia will be without three high-profile names on Thursday.
Defender Stopilla Sunzu’s four-year exile will have to wait a little bit longer after he pulled out of the friendly due to stringent COVID-19 quarantine requirements when re-entering China where he is based.
Zambia will also be without the Scotland-based duo of striker Fashion Sakala of Glasgow Rangers and Ayr United defender Frankie Musonda due to injuries.
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