Beston Chambeshi has abandoned plans to include foreign-based players in his imminent final team for the 2018 COSAFA Cup.

The news means plans to have striker Fashion Sakala of Russian second tier side Spartak Moscow 2 and Polokwane City midfielder Salulani Phiri have fallen through.

Chambeshi said he had decided to leave the duo out due to their early 2018/2019 pre-season schedules.

“We are calling anyone other than the foreign-based players. We are going to the tournament with the local players that we have,” Chambeshi said.

Meanwhile, Chambeshi is set to name his final 20-member team on May 30 before departure for Johannesburg on May 31 for the tournament South Africa is hosting from May 27 to June 9 in Limpopo.

Zambia will kick off their 2018 COSAFA Cup campaign on June 2 when they face Namibia in the quarterfinals at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Both teams enjoyed byes from the preliminary group stage of the competition.

By Kalumiana Kalumiana