Phiri: Zambia Must Embrace Gifted Players or Risk Falling Behind

Football coach Nebert Phiri has urged Zambian coaches and administrators to rethink their approach to talent identification, warning that gifted players risk slipping through the cracks if they are not properly appreciated.

Phiri noted that in Europe, coaches go out of their way to convince talented players and their families to join clubs, often promising life-changing opportunities.

“A European coach will go miles to even call the parents of the football player to join his club and even promise to change the living standards of the player’s family,” he explained. “But most African coaches ignore good talent and even tell great players to call whenever they are ready. A talent if not appreciated will run away from your hands.”

He cited the example of Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike, who was overlooked by Cameroon but was later embraced by France — a decision he said demonstrates the cost of undervaluing talent.

“Who has lost? It’s Cameroon,” he remarked.

According to Phiri, Zambia risks similar losses if systems continue to sideline top-quality players in favor of “average bootlickers.” He emphasized that great players know their worth on the pitch and deserve recognition from clubs and national selectors.

The coach added that Zambia’s environment must change to retain promising young players, many of whom are forced to abandon football due to lack of support.

“We should balance between good technical skills and good attitude. Watching a certain level of both will mean success for the club as well as the country,” he said.

Phiri concluded that Zambia needs proactive scouting systems that value raw talent, similar to Europe, in order to consistently produce players capable of competing on the global stage.