Its been close to two week since Zambia stunned the whole Football fraternity,with their magnificent displays at the just concluded African cup of Nations;leaving tournament favourites:Ivory coast,Ghana and Senegal wailing in their trail. Anyway some school of thought opined that what propelled the Chipolopolo’s to the trophy was the spirits of their lost heroes,who died in the 1993 crash that gulped about thirty lives. Well majority think it is the tactical acumen of their French born coach ‘Herve Renard’ that dragged them practically to the cup.

I happen to belong in the latter, and I scratch my head in nostalgia going back two years ago at the Nations cup in Angola 2010, when the Super Eagles played this same Zambians. You must be a die-hard supporter of the Eagles to think that Nigeria won the game by virtue of Football prowess and artistry rather than sheer luck. They made us labour for 120 minutes and would have knocked us out in regulation time if not for ill fate and the ensued penalty kicks that eliminated them.

Prior to that tournament,Amodu Shaibu’s job was hanging on a thread,and that game with Zambia was plausible enough to justify those clamoring for his head on a plate. After that game, rumours started flying around, that the Nigerian Football Federation were already in contact with Renard. Some welcomed the news,while some kicked against it believing that Amodu’s contract should be honoured ;which stipulates that for qualifying Nigeria to the semi-finals,he should take the country to the World cup. Mind you this gentleman’s agreement was never honoured.

What people saw in that quater-finals and believed that Renard should immediately replace Amodu, was the manner with which relatively unknown players took apart the Super Eagles. The Zambians were technically sound and the Super Eagles were just pedestrian and practically hung on for 120 minutes.

NFF laid off Amodu and earnestly swung into action,hunting for a foreign expatriate to coach the country. With a lot of money bankrolled by sponsors to hire a new coach and also the Presidential Task Force lurking around the corner,the NFF were beclouded and ended with whom everybody seem to aggree left us worse than we were.

Renard left Zambia in April 2010 to pick up a job with the Angolan National team whom did not qualify for the World Cup. Apparently he was hanging on for an offer, from the world cup teams and none came. Nigeria went for Swedish born coach Lars Lagerback who claimed he had a complete dossier of all the Nigerian players in Europe. How the interviewing committee bought that, I don’t know. Ivory coast hired Sven Eriksson, whom I think in the group he was in, did a respectable job. These two Nations were possible destinations for Renard.

Come to think of it, how much was Lagerback paid?okay I understand a whooping 250,000 Dollars monthly for Five months. I strongly believe Renard would have come for less and done a marvelous job,saving us the rigors of hiring three coaches in two years.

His understanding of the game is what stands him out. Is it surprising that Kalusha Bwalya the Chairman of Zambian FA hired him back in October 2011,after getting rid of the Italian born coach Dario Bonetti that saw them through qualification. More like going back to your vomit.

Now Renard is the toast of countries who want a rebuilding of their National teams: Senegal,Saudi Arabia,Ghana etc. anyway Zambia has hurriedly offered him a three years contract. Lets face the fact, the Chipoloplo’s were simply impressive at the last African Cup of Nations. Look at the camaraderie with which they played, no ego show-offs,they played with flair and as a spectator you will get value for money watching them play. They infused passion,throwing bodies at every ball shot towards their goal post, which is essentially lacking in the Super Eagles. If I remember how Musonda wept after he sustained that injury in the Finals,thereby leaving the game so early,I also remember how Taribo west soldiered on to finish the game against Sweden at the World Cup in Japan/Korea 2002 with a strapped head. All these passions are now history. Can you imagine Mikel weeping on account of not helping the Super Eagles in a crunch encounter? I doubt it.

Back to Renard’s qualities,look out how he managed his team after qualifying for the quarter-finals. Obviously some of his players got carried away and reveled in the nights. He carefully weeded out the bad egg and retained some of the players who committed ‘the same’ offence.’ now that is management.

When Sulley Muntari labeled him ‘only a physical trainer,’we all know he was an assistant to Claude Leroy,’coach of Ghana at the 2008 Nations cup, he did not respond but did on the pitch. It takes a coach who knows his onions to leave out one of his finest players on the bench and only unleashed him when he need to.

One of the Zambian players said that the Key to beating Ghana in the quarter-finals was the coach. He told them to try as much as possible to contain the Ghanaians that they will definitely get tired and they did,with the now most sought after striker Mayuka, getting a wonderful goal in the 78 minute,this is called perfect timing. No Nigerian coach has demonstrated such technical input and awareness in years.

After the tournament, Renard said he took time to study why the Egyptians were so successful three times consecutively and found out that the key was in their playing together,which explains why eighty percent of the players are based in Africa, with Congolese club TP Mazembe contributing seven.

Others came from South African PSL clubs including Orlando Pirates, Free State Stars, SuperSport United and Zambian clubs. Only few play abroad: Christopher Katongo even plays in China of all places,while Emmanuel Mayuka plays for Young Boys of Switzerland. Now the Zambians will be among the strong favourites to qualify for the Brazil 2014 World Cup from Africa.

It is really hurting to know that we actually missed out on a goldmine like Herve Renard,we can only hope that Stephen Keshi emulates him as he has shown he would by carrying along the Home-based Eagles in his Programme. He did creditably well by inviting 11 domestic to prosecute the game against Rwanda. Lets see if he will discard them when as people say ‘push comes to shove.’