By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Wedson Nyirenda says in order to grow Chipolopolo’s current limited source of players, there is an urgent need to nurture young talent who can make an instant impact at senior level.
Nyirenda said on the sidelines of the ongoing FAZ nationwide talent search that the just-ended Euro 2024 where Spain’s success owed its credit to prodigy’s like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams is testament to the outcomes of such aggressive projects.
“We have to know the process that these young players from other countries have gone through for them to be stars and shine at the biggest stage. Football has changed. it has evolved, ” Nyirenda said.
“If you look at the trend now, young players are the ones influencing the games. We need to change the way we are producing and developing these players as a country.
“We have to be quick in thinking that the age 17 is the golden age but it is also a participating age. “
Chipolopolo has since lifting the 2012 AFCON struggled with limited talent in particular banking on elements from the 2017 U20 winning team led by Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala.
But modest talent has come through following that junior AFCON success on home soil.
“We should not be looking at the young talent and thinking they can’t perform, We need that in Zambia and I think we should have a policy that at every competition, we have two or three youngsters to the list,” Nyirenda added.
“Yes, we have started from this level, though a bit late but we need to continue in this trajectory.
“We should not expect these young boys we are picking now to go and play in Ivory Coast then we are confused. We should be thinking of how we are going to keep them and grow our pool of players.
“We have lacked in this aspect. The pool of players has shrunk and that is why competition has gone down.”
