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Bwalya is said to have approached BFA citing that his Chipolopolo, who are in Group C with Guinea, would be “better” opposition for the Zebras as they prepare for their maiden Afcon appearance.
Afcon debutantes Botswana turned down the offer saying they had a long-standing relationship with Zimbabwe and would not let the team down at the eleventh hour.
Zebras’ coach Stanley Tshosane confirmed the plot and said he made it clear to Zambia that he preferred playing the Warriors.
“Kalusha did indicate wanting to play us. He felt Zambia would give us better competition, but I feel we have a good relationship with Zimbabwe and I personally prefer to play Zimbabwe,” Tshosane said in a telephone interview from Rustenburg, South Africa.
The Zebras are presently in Rustenburg at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus, the same facility England used during last year’s World Cup. They are in their second phase of the preparations after spending 10 days at the same facility before Christmas.
Botswana return to Gaborone on Wednesday next week and the Zimbabwe tie will be their last friendly before Afcon.
BFA president, David Fani said the team’s training programme was tight and they would not consider Zambia’s offer.
“We would have loved to play Zambia in a friendly but the team’s training schedule does not allow that,” Fani said.
Online Reporter