Mazembe trio to miss Brazil match

Football | Zambia

 

Interim Zambia coach Patrice Beaumelle is set to face his first crisis with news that three TP Mazembe call-ups might miss next week’s Brazil friendly in China.
Zambia will face Brazil in a friendly on October 15 at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing. Defender Stopilla Sunzu, as well as midfielder’s Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala are said to be unavailable for the trip.
The DR Congo club said in a statement posted on their official website that illness and injury has hit the trio. Sunzu is said to have sustained a knee injury that he incurred on October 6 in Mazembe’s CAF Confederations Cup semi-final, first leg away win over Stade Malien in Bamako.

His compatriots Sinkala and Kalaba are believed to have contracted Malaria and are receiving treatment.
The three are part of the 26-man team ex-coach Herve Renard selected for next Tuesday’s friendly against Brazil in Beijing. However, the trio’s club mate, defender Hichani Himonde, has been given a clean bill of health and is expected to travel to China to face the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosts.
Meanwhile, the friendly will mark Beaumelle’s first game in charge following his promotion to head coach after his boss Herve Renard quit on Monday to take up the position of trainer at French Ligue 1 club Sochaux.