Sichone set for big test against Mali

Moses Sichone gets ready for his biggest test as interim Chipolopolo coach this Friday in the first of two friendlies this weekend against Mali in Bamako.

For the second time in Sichone’s still very young coaching career, the Zambia assistant coach and ex-Chipolopolo defensive midfield general has been handed temporal reins.

The 45-year-old Sichone is standing in for his boss the Croat Aljosa Asanovic.

Asanovic is currently embroiled in a standoff with FAZ over an administrative matter that has swung back and forth with allegations of AWOL from the employers to boycott over a late salary by the employee.

It is the second time Sichone is standing in for Asanovic since July in the 2022 COSAFA Cup quarterfinals in Durban.

Asanovic failed to join Chipolopolo for that COSAFA Cup quarterfinal after another administrative hitch this time, an oversight in obtaining his South African entry visa.

Chipolopolo laboured to a 1-1 draw under Sichone on his Zambia coaching debut before advancing to the semifinals 4-3 on post-match penalties.

But that was with a home-based team and seven of whom have made the 23-member travelling party to Bamako.

SICHOLE TO LEAD ZAMBIA

And on Friday, Sichone will now have a taste of presiding over the European-based stars who include Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu and Glasgow Rangers striker Fashion Sakala.

“I have taken the challenge and for me, that is not new. I am just focusing on the team and not what is being said outside,” Sichone said.

Sichone comes with a high reputation that he backed up with some strong opinions during his time as a Chipolopolo star.

Furthermore, Sichone is a graduate of top-tier European football after spending over a decade in the German Bundesliga where he played for FC Koln and Alemannia Aachen.

Sichone also knows a thing or two about leadership after regularly captaining Chipolopolo including at the 2002 AFCON.

“I have been in football as a player and I have been working with junior players in Europe and with junior teams,” Sichone added.

“I also know the roots with the national team, what it takes, so it is a good challenge for me.”

But Sichone has a slight setback heading into Friday’s game with Leicester City striker Patson Daka likely to miss the first friendly.

SICHOLE ON PAKA AND MUTALE

Daka and Power Dynamos midfielder Joshua Mutale are down with a fever and may only be available for the final friendly against Mali on September 26.

“That is the only worry that I have but we have a full squad but it is just a matter of adjusting,” Sichone said.

Meanwhile, this will be Mali and Chipolopolo’s fifth meeting.

Strangely, Mali has never beaten Chipolopolo with the latter way ahead on two wins and two draws.

Sichone also played in one of them exactly 20 years ago in a pre-2002 AFCON that ended 1-1.

And now as a coach, Sichone is obligated to maintain that tradition in an era that some notable Chipolopolo records have been tumbling at a rapid rate.