By IANS,
Lusaka : The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has u-turned on its decision to play a friendly game with Gabon, saying players needed to be given time to settle at their clubs.
On Monday, FAZ said it was holding discussions with the Gabonese Football Federation for a friendly game Feb. 29, a FIFA sanctioned date, the Zambia Daily Mail reported Wednesday.
But FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya said later that the national team will not play any friendly match because players were just settling at their clubs after the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Bwalya said the players had been away from their clubs for a long time and that it was important to give them time after winning the Africa of Nations trophy.
The 1988 African Footballer Of The Year said some players did not play much for their clubs late last year and this year because FAZ kept summoning them for international friendly matches.
“Last year, the guys went to play in Egypt, then came Yemen, Nigeria, Angola and India. I think it is important that we don’t disturb them for now because Feb. 29 is just around the corner,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.