Zambia engages British coach for CHAN tournament

Zambia's soccer governing body has engaged a British coach to assist the national soccer team technical bench at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals to be hosted by Rwanda, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has engaged 34-year-old Irfan Kawri as assistant coach to ensure the national soccer team's success at the tournament that only features players from African leagues.

George Kasengele, the soccer governing body's secretary-general said the British trainer was expected to add value to the team's campaign for the CHAN trophy, adding that the trainer has specifically been hired for the tournament although his position will be reviewed after the tournament.

Current Zambia national soccer team trainer George Lwandamina will remain head coach while the rest of the staff remaining in their position, he added.

"He is coming next week. We have hired him for the CHAN as a way of gauging his ability considering that he is not tested at international level. We just want to add spice to the team hoping he can bring something new to the technical bench and inspire players to do well at the competition in Rwanda," he is quoted saying by the paper.

The British trainer has worked mostly with first division teams as a coach, scout and opposition team assesser. His major breakthrough was at English side Wigan Athletic where he worked as an opposition scout.

Zambia are in Group D alongside Uganda, Mali and Zimbabwe. Endit