'Patriotic' kit needed for Zambia

By Kennedy Gondwe
BBC Sport, Lusaka

The copper-coloured kit was last used in the 1990s

The Zambian government would like the national team to wear a more 'patriotic' strip at the Nations Cup finals in January.

The team been wearing an all-white kit of late.

But the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Bob Samakai, is calling for a return to the copper-coloured jerseys last used in the late 1990s.

"Not so long ago, Zambia was identified at major tournaments because of the copper strip," Samakai told BBC Sport.

"Patriotism among players is supposed to start with the jersey they wear, followed by the national anthem."

Copper is the country's largest natural resource and accounts for most of Zambia's foreign currency earnings.

The copper-coloured strip helped to earn the national team its nickname of 'Chipolopolo', meaning 'Copper Bullets'.

Samakai says the white kit has no patriotic value

Zambia still wear a more familiar green kit occasionally, with the colour depicting the country's vegetation.

The white kit has no such meaning, and white is not even on the national flag.

Samakai argues that Zambia look 'lost' at major tournaments because they have now lost their national identity.

"Look at Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Cameroon, you can't miss them when they are at tournaments," he said.

"Even when they confront their opponents, they do it with pride.

"Being dressed in national colours brings with it a sense of patriotism."

He advised the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) to discard the white strip and replace it with the copper colours.

Faz declined to comment on Samakai's suggestion.

Zambia were runners-up at the 1994 Nations Cup, and play in Group C at the 2008 edition with Cameroon, Egypt and Sudan.