Zambia coach left in SA after suspected food poisoning

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has provided a scary health update following the Chipolopolo’s friendly match against Bafana Bafana, which Hugo Broos’ men won 3-1 on Saturday.

After the game, FAZ confirmed that head coach Moses Sichone, midfielder Miguel Chaiwa and video analyst Elias Chipota had been admitted to St George Private Hospital in Port Elizabeth after suspected food poisoning while in South Africa.

The three were hospitalised after their condition worsened as they had fever, diarrhea and vomiting and they were forced to remain behind as the rest of the team left for Angola ahead of Tuesday’s friendly match against the hosts with team doctor Wesley Ngong also left behind to tend to them.

“The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is working closely with its host Association and the local medical authorities to ensure that the affected receive the best possible medical attention,” FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande said via a social media post.

FAZ and SA authorities probing health scare

“We are also happy that some of the cases reported in the team earlier have significantly improved with the affected parties being monitored.”

It is still not certain what led to the health scare but FAZ confirmed that it was working with authorities in South Africa to find out the root cause.

The Chipolopolo arrived in South Africa on Thursday ahead of the match, which was Bafana Bafana take a 3-0 lead inside 68 minutes, thanks to goals from Oswin Appollis, Mohau Nkota and Sphephelo Sithole before Joseph Sabobo grabbed the consolation for the visitors in stoppage time.

The health issue saw Sichone miss from the dugout during the match with former Orlando Pirates midfielder Perry Mutapa taking charge of the Chipolopolo while Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper coach Kennedy Mweene and Golden Arrows legend Joseph Musonda formed part of the Zambia technical team.