Zambian coach forgives truant player

LUSAKA–The head coach of the Zambia national soccer team has pardoned a wayward player whom he expelled from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) camp in Equatorial Guinea, the Post of Zambia reported on Thursday.Herve Renard expelled Clifford Mulenga from camp after he refused to apologise after breaking camping rules by going out drinking with four other players after the team beat Equatorial Guinea to sail to the quarter finals of the tournament.Last week, the player apologised to the coach, soccer governing body, fellow players and to the entire nation for his behaviour, which he said was unacceptable. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has since accepted his apology.Renard, who had said he will never select Mulenga for national duty, said the player was forgiven but could not clearly state whether the gifted winger was available for the national team.“We have accepted his apology. He is one of the Zambian players for the national team. He is like many thousand Zambian players,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.The AFCON winning coach said Mulenga was like any other national soccer team player and that he could be considered for the national team.The Frenchman man however said no player was bigger than the national soccer team.The 24-year-old player, who plies his trade for South Africa Premier side Bloemfontein Celtics, was voted the 2007 young Africa Footballer-of-the-Year and is seen as one of the future for the national soccer team.

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Zambian coach forgives truant player