The Zambian national football team, who surprisingly won the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, have cancelled their 10-day training camp in Goa later this month as part of their preparations for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa next January and February. Zambia will now travel to the Middle East or another African country. The Zambians spoke very highly about their preparatory camp in Goa last year, which they said was one of the reasons why they achieved success at the continental stage. Their sponsors Konkola Copper Mines, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources from India, were set to organise a second such trip to India to prepare the national team, but for what the Football Association of Zambia termed ‘unforeseen circumstances’ the training trip to the Indian state of Goa was cancelled.
Though not disclosing why the trip has been cancelled, the Zambians hinted that there were administrative issues, and that a few days ago the All India Football Federation and the Indian Ministry of Sports were unaware that Zambia could tour the country.
Now Zambia is looking at other destinations in the Middle East or another African country to prepare their team where clearances are granted quickly, then not much time is left for them.
