BBC SPORT | AFRICA | Zambia target 2006

Zambia coach Patrick Phiri says that Zambia should rebuild its squad with an eye on the 2006 African Nations Cup.

"If we start preparing now, there is a chance that we can return Zambian football to its proper place in Africa."

Some members of Zambia's parliament have recommended that the 'Chipolopolo' (bullets) withdraw from international football for three years.

But Phiri warned that pulling the national team out of international football will lead "to oblivion."

Rebuilding

"When we performed as badly as we did at the African Nations Cup it is natural that people will be disappointed with the national team and will say all sort of things.

Zambian national team
Zambia disappointed fans at the Nations Cup

"But we cannot pull out of international football," Phiri said.

The coach admits the national team is in a poor state but says the future of Zambian football lies with the young.

"Our standards have gone down and my first priority is to form a team that would make us a force to be reckoned with once again," he said.

"We are meeting Mozambique in the quarter-finals of the Cosafa Cup on 5 July.

"I think that this is the best place to start from."


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