Zambia FA spokesperson Sydney Mungala has confirmed that Chipolopolo national team coach Moses Sichone remains hospitalised in South Africa due to suspected food poisoning, four days after playing Bafana Bafana.
Sichone, along with video analyst Elias Chipota and midfielder Miguel Chaiwa, were among those affected by the poisoning incident before the match. While the trio had to be hospitalised, most of the players only suffered mild signs of illness.
Zambia suffered a 3-1 defeat to South Africa in a match played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Chipolopolo is set to face Angola in another international friendly match in Luanda on Tuesday afternoon without coach Sichone.
CHIPOLOPOLO COACH REMAINS HOSPITALIZED IN SOUTH AFRICA
“So far, coach Moses Sichone and Video analyst Elias Chipota are still at St George Hospital in South Africa,” Mungala told Radio 2000 Sport show, Game On.
“But the good news is that our midfielder Miguel Chaiwa has now been discharged and is now out of danger. The other members who had mild signs of attack from suspected food poisoning are okay.”
ZAMBIA FC GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT SHOWN BY SAFA
“We must mention that obviously, to a layman, contamination could mean that someone might have put something in the food, which is actually not the case. We have engaged the medics and everyone who needs to help us to get to the bottom of this issue. The initial suspicion is that there may have been some element of contamination to the food.
“We are happy that we have received a lot of support from the health authorities and our host association. To make sure everyone who was affected by this problem is getting attention. We are happy for now that this matter has been handled very well.
“We are just praying that coach Moses and the video analyst, who are being attended to, will be able to come out of the hospital to go back home.”
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