The Frenchman has expressed his willingness to return to the country where he won his first major silverware in spite of his current post with one of the most lucrative national teams in the world.
Chipolopolo 2012 AFCON winning coach Herve Renard says he is willing to return to Zambia should he be called upon for his services.
The French tactician shocked the continent in Gabon nine years ago as he led less-fancied nation to a maiden AFCON crown after beating favourites Ivory Coast on post-match penalties.
The 53-year old gaffer who now takes charge of the Saudi Arabian national team, left the Chipolopolo in 2013 and later went on to make history by becoming the first coach to lead two different nations to AFCON titles after steering the Elephants of Ivory Coast to the title in 2015.
Renard also qualified Morocco to the 2018 FIFA World Cup after an absence of two decades.
Speaking when on online program dubbed “Studio Ken” hosted by seasoned journalist Kennedy Gondwe, Renard stressed that the Zambia remains rooted in his heart as he is emotionally attached to the nation.
“Not only because we won [the AFCON], I have a Zambian tattoo in my heart, I think someone entered my heart and put the Zambian tattoo in my heart forever and I am not saying this because you are a Zambian or because I am just commenting now that it’s 10 years” Renard said.
“I think all the people know me very well, there is something special and I know I have the respect of the people and I know I have the respect of the people and I know I will always have the respect of the people, so for me it’s special,
“Later I had my daughter, Kayla, who is half Zambian and half French so I have Zambia in my heart forever.”
Asked in the interview if he would return to coach the Chipolopolo one day, Renard said : “We never know what can happen in football or in life, I don’t know anything about the future the only thing I can tell you is that when I don’t see Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations I am very sad.”
However, the former Angola and Ghana (assistant) coach said he would open to a return to Zambia if called upon regardless of the financial aspect.
“Whatever people will ask me, whether its Kalusha or Zambian people I will do it, I don’t want money or anything, I will just come with my heart because you never have to forget [the background] and I will never forget” he said.
Renard said he had been saddened by the dropped state of football in the country despite having a wholesome of talented players.
“I am not a politician, I don’t want to say it is the fault of this one or that, I don’t have anything to do with the Zambian business, I don’t have anything to win or lose [in blaming others],
“I am just sad for the players because I know of the fantastic potential of Zambian players because when we were going to Copperbelt and around the country to from Chipata, we did scouted all around Zambia and we made a team of 16-18 [years old] boys, we did it and it was amazing, there is a lot of talent in Zambia” he added.
He also called for unity and support from the nation to help steer the Chipolopolo back to it’s glorious days.
“Football makes everybody happy, football makes everybody to put their support behind their team, whether you are from the left or from the right, North, South or if you are from the Copperbelt or Lusaka, it doesn’t matter, you are Zambian.”
On 13th February next year it will be exactly 10 years since Zambia achieved the remarkable success of lifting their maiden AFCON title and Renard reminisced the emotional scenes at the Stade d’lamitie during final against a star-studded Ivory Coast side.
He further stated that it would be difficult for Chipolopolo to claim the AFCON title once again hence the need for the 10 year anniversary to be commemorated ardently.
“I have a lot memories that remind me of [Zambia], always when I was giving my passport to the immigration when coming or leaving Zambia, a lot of people used to tell me that ‘you put us on the map’, but I said I was not alone, thank you for this comment but we did it together, also with the fans because we saw the many fans who were behind the goal post in Libreville in 2012, I remember it was so amazing and it was big for them to come to Gabon because you have to pay the flight and other travel expenses, it was amazing I don’t know exactly how many Zambian people were there but maybe they were 3,000 or 4,000, it was fantastic.
“Remembering the 2012 title, it will get happier because to be honest it will be very difficult for anyone even the best coach in the world, it will be very difficult to do it again”
“I hope it will happen once again for Zambia but it will be very difficult so this title is the memory of everyone forever.”
Source: BolaZambia
