Zambia national team stand-in-coach Beston Chambeshi has defended his selection in the just ended COSAFA Castle Cup after coming on the receiving end of criticisms for fielding a second string Chipolopolo squad.
Chambeshi believes the team did their best as they reached the final. The former Zambia international is thankful to his team for the spirited fight they put up throughout the tournament.
“Overall, the tournament was okay and I’m happy with the boys we picked to go and represent Zambia. They did their best to take the country to the finals. I say thanks to the players and my technical staff we worked as a team but unfortunately it’s only that one team was supposed to win that tournament and Zimbabwe came out as the winners,” he said.
Chambeshi also leapt to the defense of striker Ronald Kampamba who came under torrents of derides after he missed a clear chance and his clumsy tackle on Khama Biliat resulted into a penalty for Zimbabwe.
“You know it has just been a trend in Zambia when a player misses a chance you start calling him names this and that but football is football. We have to learn one or two things from the games; even in Europe it’s happening,” he continued.
“I watched (the game) when Liverpool played Real Madrid. The goalkeeper made a mistake but it is just one of those things even at higher level. If you look at our players, all we need is just to encourage them and make sure the next game they do something for us,” he added.
Zambia joined the COSAFA Castle Cup at the quarter final stage where they eliminated Namibia on post-match penalties to set up a semi-final clash with Madagascar before crumbling in the finals, conceding to eventual champions and record six-time holders Zimbabwe 4-2.
