2010 dream alive despite difficult draw2010 dream alive despite difficult draw

Posted October 27th, 2008

FOOTBALL HOUSE - Chipolopolo Boys trainer Herve Renard says Zambia can dream of a maiden FIFA World Cup finals place but stressed that the Group C Africa Preliminary qualifying competition which has pitted his Zambian squad against reigning African champions Egypt, east African dark-horses Rwanda and Algeria’s Desert Foxes provided a difficult but manageable challenge.

Analyzing the draw conducted at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Wednesday October 22, the French-born coach said: “We have a good team, great team spirit and I know that we can still improve and get even stronger on the way. With a good squad, we can get good results in this group.”

“In football, nothing is impossible. We have the same chances as Algeria and Rwanda and Egypt even when we know that Egypt will be considered group favourites because they were seeded and they are African champion. It will be difficult to play in North Africa but we have to travel and win anywhere,” Renard said adding; “I said before the draw that if I can avoid Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire, I would be satisfied. This group is not easy but we have the chance to play good games and qualify to Angola and why not South Africa if we play good football and win. We can dream about South Africa.”

The Chipolopolo boss believes that the line-up of fixtures was also good for Zambia asserting that opening the campaign away to Egypt before back-to-back home fixtures against Rwanda and Algeria respectively would give his team an advantage.

With that schedule of games and his developing love for playing in the border town of Chililabombwe, Renard reckons Konkola Stadium and the vociferous Zambian fans can further give Zambia an edge over her opponents during home games.

“It’s not bad to begin by playing Egypt because it’s a difficult team at home and I think with a difficult start and a good result for us in Cairo, then it should become easier for us on the way. After Egypt in March, we have two games at home and that will give us an advantage. But the most important thing for us is to do the work on the field by playing well and getting the goals and results we need.”

“I know all the fans are dreaming about South Africa. It will be difficult because there are no easy games but that doesn’t mean we have no chance. All we need is to prepare adequately, and continue with the great team spirit which has impressed me very much about the Zambian team, and then I think with each player’s hard work, we can do it,” Renard said.

He thanked the Zambian football family for the support rendered to him and the team since he took over in May 2008.
“The fans have been great. They have supported us throughout because they love their team and their country. That is good and I want that to continue in this final phase,” he said.

On his new revelation that he was enjoying playing games at Konkola Stadium he said: “I like it there. The design of the stadium, the stands especially when it is full, I think it is very intimidating to the visiting teams. It is a place they would not want to visit and play. That is an advantage for us and I want the federation (Football Association of Zambia) to take all our games to Chililabombwe. It’s a good stadium for us,” Renard, who has never conceded a goal or lost a game at the stadium since taking over, said.

According to the schedule of games, the Chipolopolo open their campaign against the Pharaohs on the weekend of March 28-29 in Cairo before a couple of home June fixtures against Rwanda on June 6 and Algeria two weeks later on June 20.

Zambia then plays away to Algeria on the weekend of September 5-6 before hosting the Egyptians on October 10 in Chililabombwe.
Zambia’ final qualifying game is away to Rwanda on the weekend of 14-15 November 2009.