2012 AFCON winning captain Christopher Katongo has landed a new role in Zambia.
The former Jomo Cosmos forward has been appointed to the Zambia Under 23 national team backroom staff.
The Football Association of Zambia said in a statement that Katongo has been hired as a physical trainer for the Under 23 team.
This is Katongo’s first appointment in the national team structures after getting some coaching experience as an assistant trainer at FAZ Super League club Green Buffaloes two seasons ago.
Katongo returns to Zambia Under 23 set-up, where he has a sentimental connection.
The Zambia U23 team was the springboard for Katongo’s Chipolopolo career after featuring at the 2003 All Africa Games in Nigeria, where the team finished 4th.
Katongo is one of two players from the Class of 2003 on the Zambia U23 bench, together with ex-Amazulu goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje who has been appointed U23 goalkeeping coach.
The duo will work under Oswald Mutapa, who has been elevated from Zambia U20 coach.
Mutapa will be assisted by former Zesco United boss Tenant Chembo, Power Dynamos coach Mwenya Chipepo and Boyd Mulwanda of Kansanshi Dynamos.
The teams’ first assignment will come as early as October in a 2023 Under 23 AFCON second-round qualifier against Sierra Leone.
Zambia will travel to Freetown for the first leg during the weekend of October 21-23, and the final leg will be played on October 29 in Lusaka.
The winner will advance to the final stage to play the winner of Egypt versus Eswatini or Botswana’s second-round tie.
Meanwhile, FAZ has also announced to the Zambia Under 20 staff that Red Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe will head, previously Zambia Under 16 trainer.
Mbewe will be assisted by Zambia U17 coach George Chilufya and Zesco deputy coach Alfred Lupiya.
Ex-Zesco goalkeeper coach Emmanuel Mschili joins the Zambia U20 bench in the same capacity.
