By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Avram Grant has disclosed that he loves all his Chipolopolo players, even the ‘rebels’, and wishes outcast Fashion Sakala a speedy recovery.
Sakala, snubbed by Grant after a publicised fallout in May, sustained a serious head injury on October 29 while in action for his Saudi Arabian club Al Nasr that required 18 stitches.
Grant said he is sending get well soon messages to not only those faithful who are ruled out of next week’s Chipolopolo final two 2025 AFCON qualifiers but to Sakala as well.
“I do not speak about this but we need to be human beings, he played for the national team and he did his best for the national team until he made a mistake. He had a bad injury. I saw it and you need to know I have nothing personal against my players,” Grant said during the announcement of his team to face Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone in next week’s last two 2025 AFCON Group G qualifiers.
“I care only about the team. I love all the players, I love them even when they make mistakes. I need to put them in their place when they make mistakes and I need to keep the harmony of the team.
“He had a bad injury and I really wish him all the best and I hope he will recover well and back to normal life. I say he is a strong guy.”
Grant’s absentee register for the November assignments will see him without captain Lubambo Musonda of Germany 2.Bundesliga club Magdeburg, Miguel Chaiwa of Swiss club Young Boys and Edward Chilufya from Danish club Midtjylland, all due to injuries.
Lameck Banda and Stopilla Sunzu are back after injuries ruled them out of the October Group G qualifiers against Chad.
Also back is goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga who sustained a head injury in the first leg against Chad on October 11 that finished scoreless in Ndola.
Zambia returns to action on November 15 at home against Ivory Coast in Ndola and visits Sierra Leone in their final Group G fixture on November 19 in Monrovia, Liberia.
Ivory Coast leads Group G with 9 points, Zambia has 7 points, Sierra Leone has 4 points and Chad is last with 2 points.
Grant said the home game against Ivory Coast is not only about making amends for the 2-0 first leg away loss on September 6 in Bouake but also about reviving the spirit of the 3-0 home victory over the Elephants in June 2023 in their successful 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
“We cannot say we give up against Ivory Coast and say we will play against Sierra Leone. We need to do our best against Ivory Coast, also last year we played against them and we played well,” said Grant. “In football, anything can happen, I have a lot of respect for Ivory Coast, all the players are key players for teams in Europe, we don’t have such players but we have the spirit.”
