THE French government has bestowed the highest sports honours on Zambia soccer coach, Herve Renard and his assistant, Patrice Beaumelle for guiding the Chipolopolo to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final triumph.
Renard and Beaumelle were decorated with medals during the ceremony of the remittance of the French Medal of Youth and Sports at the residence of the French Ambassador to Zambia in Lusaka on Wednesday night.
Both the Zambian and French governments expressed confidence that the Chipolopolo would go all the way and defend the AFCON title in South Africa next year.
French Ambassador to Zambia, Marie-Annick Bourdin said the European nation was proud of the Chipolopolo achievements and wished Zambia the best of luck as Renard begins preparing the team for 2013 AFCON finals.
Sport and Youth Deputy Minister, Nathaniel Mubukwanu said the Chipolopolo under the two Frenchmen, Renard and Beaumelle had done well for the nation and the Government would continue offering all the necessary support.
Mubukwanu said the Government was therefore not surprised with the gesture by the French government to honour the duo.
He, however, advised the coaches to take the honours as a further motivation to head into South Africa and retain the crown and also make a historic qualification to the World Cup finals in 2014.
"Government is confident that our national team can go to South Africa and defend our trophy. The coach and his staff have done extremely well and Government is there to offer support to the team and FAZ through and through," he said.
Renard assured that with the preparations FAZ, its partners and Government had lined up, the Chipolopolo would be ready for the AFCON finals battle.
He said apart from being ready for the challenge, Zambia would also work hard to defend the trophy won earlier this year in Gabon.
Renard, however, said the reigning champions' first priority was to win Group C where Zambia is pitted against Nigeria, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.
And speaking on behalf of FAZ president, Kalusha Bwalya, association spokesperson, Erick Mwanza thanked the French government for recognising the coaches' efforts and commended the Zambian Government for the continued support to the team.
Mwanza stressed FAZ's commitment to adequately prepare the team as demonstrated over the last four years adding; preparations for the 2013 AFCON would be excellent and put the squad in good stead for the final push in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Zambia will camp for two days before facing 2013 AFCON hosts, South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on November 14 in Johannesburg.
The Chipolopolo camping will be in line with the framework of the world football governing body, FIFA calendar for friendly games.
Mwanza said Renard would have all the players summoned for the Bafana Bafana assignment at least 48 hours before the crunch match set for Soccer City.
Mwanza said the Chipolopolo would have a maximum of about three training sessions in Johannesburg and that the period was enough to prepare for a friendly match since the players were already in shape at their respective clubs.
He said Renard would once again be availed valuable time to have an opportunity to critically look at the players as he prepares to name his 23 'troops' for the AFCON finals.
Mwanza reiterated that playing Bafana Bafana at Soccer City would be a dress-rehearsal for the Chipolopolo as they hope to make the February 10 AFCON final match.
He said that playing in the Nelson Mandela Challenge was something phenomenal for the Chipolopolo as the former South African president was an extraordinary legend.
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