Zambia national team head coach Avram Grant says the recent nationwide player selection exercise was conducted to identify players to feature for the main national team in future.
The nationwide player trials program concluded yesterday with a match involving a selection of players picked from all the provinces. They faced a Chipolopolo side consisting of all locally-based players who emerged 3-1 winners at the Reiz Arena (Woodlands Stadium).
Speaking to journalists after the match yesterday, Grant said the nationwide player selection was a great step taken in a bid to ensure that each and every talented player from all corners of the country is brought into the ranks of the national team.
“I think it’s a good project. I think the idea to come to every province and see all the players is a good one and we need to start do it even with the young generation so that we don’t miss anyone,” Grant said.
Grant further explained that the project presented a chance for players to be seen and considered for future national team assignments but not for the immediate term.
“Our future and our players depend on the young players and I think it’s a good project because it gave me the opportunity to see more players. The project is not for now it is more for the future and the most important thing is that we see as many players as we can,” he said.
“The project is not for the upcoming games and I don’t think there is any player here that will come to save us or anything like that.”
Meanwhile, Grant reiterated his stance on leaving the door open for every eligible and deserving Zambian player to earn a call to the national team regardless of where they ply their trade.
“I saw each team in the league at least four times last season and I saw the players then I got an impression. As I say the door is open for everybody both inside and outside Zambia and we are trying to make the team stable,” he added.
Grant is preparing to name his squad for the upcoming crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone slated for next month.
