Micho Blames ‘Tired Legs’ For Zambia Loss Against Uganda

January 6, 2021
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Zambia coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovich has blamed fatigue for his side’s poor show against Uganda Cranes.

The Chipolopolo were second best in the 2-0 loss to Uganda on Monday in the Pre-Chan mini tournament in Yaounde.

The loss was at the back of Zambia’s six-goal draw against Niger.

“First of all it has been a match between fresh team and tired legs. We came in this match after only 48 hours playing a very touch physical match against a team of Niger, so we have played a match on a slight disadvantage,” Micho stated.

“But personally I am very happy with my team, these are preparation matches, and the results didn’t reflect what happened on the field because in three occasions we hit the post, the opponent was shivering in our box, the goalkeeper bounced the ball in the wrong area and they scored the second one which was the own goal by a goalkeeper.

“But its better to happen now than happening in competition, meaning we critically need to look and improve, to score better and tighten the back by not conceding such silly goals we have conceded.”

Viane Ssekajugo bundled home the opener after Zambia keeper spilled Ibrahim Orit’s aerial cross and the keeper sliced in his net courtesy of Steven Mukwala.

He addee: “I would like to say to my players that in preparation matches, you either win or learn a lesson, so we have not won but we have learnt a lesson.”

Zambia will face Cameroon on Thursday while Uganda play Niger in the first game of the day.

“We are in a process and in that process we have a situation where we need to improve match by match, so I believe that we have been much more solid today, much better in defending set pieces and I believe if they have not been those two mistakes, it could have been much more better If we have been much effective but players are coming from tired legs.

“We are still in preparations, we still have the time in front of us to refresh and come in much better competitive form and make our selves ready for the 19th January to our first game against Tanzania.”

The Chipolopolo are pooled in Group D alongside Tanzania, Guinea and Namibia.

They finished third in the inaugural edition of CHAN in 2009, and have picked quarterfinal slots for the last two editions.