Zambia national team Chipolopolo coach George Lwandamina says the Argentina game will provide his players a good platform to face top level competition.
Speaking after the team training at the University of Lusaka, Lwandamina said while playing the world champions would be a monumental task, it will give his lads a great learning platform.
“It will be a very difficult task, playing the world champions and we have never qualified to the world cup, but it is a well-received invitation so that we expose our boys to that level of football,” he said.
“I am sure it will be a platform for learning purposes, how to fight, how to play big names, that is the platform that we are going to. Nothing more than that.”
The 2007 U-20 FIFA World Cup coach says the team sent to Argentina will comprise mostly tested players that have proved their mettle in Zambian colours.
The Chipolopolo will be away to the Lionel Messi led Argentina on March 31 in Buenos Aires in a historic friendly match that pits Zambia against the reigning world champions.
During the morning training, Lwandamina and his assistant Osward Mutapa held a combined session with the Botswana bound squad which will compete in the Four Nations tournament. Mutapa will lead the team bound for Botswana that comprises largely local players and the top performing under-23 stars.
FINAL SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS); Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Mangani Banda (Kabwe Warriors), Victor Chabu (Nchanga Rangers).
(DEFENDERS); Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers), Domininc Chanda (Power Dynamos), Frederick Mwimanzi, Tinklar Sinkala (both Zanaco), Brian Chilimina (Red Arrows), Kondwani Chiboni (Power Dynamos).
(MIDFIELDERS); Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Given Kalusa, Kelvin Mwanza (FC Muza), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos), David Simukonda (Ceremica Cleopatra-Egypt), Obino Chisala (Al Merreikh-Sudan), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian-Sctoland).
(FORWARDS); Patson Daka (Leicester-England), Chanka Zimba (Iverness Caledonian Thistle), Kingstone Mutandwa (SV Reid-Austria), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Albert Kangwanda (Red Arrows), Pascal Phiri (Pyramids-Egypt).
