Zambia coach Patrice Beaumelle faces his first test at home when Chipolopolo host the Uganda Cranes in an international friendly on Wednesday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The friendly will mark the Frenchman’s home debut since taking over from his mentor and predecessor Herve Renard last October after the 2012 Africa Cup winning coach quit to take up the post at struggling French Ligue 1 club Sochaux.
Beaumelle has said he is not feeling the pressure at all despite mixed feelings at home as to whether he is the right man for the job despite being Renard’s assistant since 2008.
“Yes, the first game in 2014 and as I said a few days ago it is my first game as head coach with Chipolopolo at home so everybody is expecting to watch a good game,” Beaumelle said.
“It is not a new thing because we have working together for the last five years so it is just a continuity of that.”
Beaumelle heads into this tenth game in charge seeking his fifth win in what has been a mixed start for the 35-year-old Frenchman.
The Frenchman has won four and lost as many games including one draw.
Wednesday match will also mark the return of TP Mazembe midfielder Rainford Kalaba for the first time since he controversially pulled out of Beaumelles debut match in a friendly against Brazil away in Beijing on October 15 citing injury.
Chipolopolo lost that match 2-0.
Striker Christopher Katongo too is set to play for only the second time under Beaumelle after missing subsequent friendlies against Jordan and Egypt after he was excused to sort out his contractual exit from Chinese club Henan Jianye at the end of his three year deal there.
Meanwhile, Uganda face Zambia for the first time since October, 2012 after Chipolopolo beat them on post-match penalties to extinguish their 2013 Africa Cup dreams in the qualifiers for the South Africa tournament.
Cranes coach Micho Sredojevich has played down any notions of a score to settle on behalf of his predecessor Bobby Williamson.
“I am not one to belong to that group one of those coaches who arrive at the airport and threaten you but we shall do everything possible in order to offer a proper tactical approach to the game and we do the best on the field of play to get a proper result,” Micho said.
But Micho has some selection problems with his KCCA trio of Tony Odur, Brian Majwega and Ivan Ntege all excused due to CAF Champions League commitments.
However, key striker Daniel Sserunkuma of Gor Mahia is available together with his club mate Godffreu Kizito.
The Cranes are using the friendly to fine tune ahead of their 2015 Africa Cup second round qualifiers coming up in May against a yet to be named opponent.
Source: Supersport
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