Chipolopolo coach Wedson Nyirenda has explained his decision to drop Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba and to instead recall Fwayo Tembo and Clatous Chama.

The trio were at the centre of a media storm over discipline that saw the Lusaka Dynamos duo of Chama and Fwayo including Power Dynamos defender Billy Mutale axed from Zambia duty from June to August.

Chama stormed off the pitch after he was substituted in Zambia’s 3-0 home win over Swaziland in July while Fwayo and Mutale skipped camp for the 2017 Cosafa Cup including a friendly away against Bafana Bafana on June 13.

Their crimes put pressure on Nyirenda to also punish Kalaba who also walked away from the bench after he was substituted in a 2019 AFCON qualifier 1-0 home loss against Mozambique in Ndola on June 10.

“The boys showed some remorse. We should understand one thing here; we are running an institution here and a human resource and it is our job to bring the boys into line,” Nyirenda said.

“They have come to their senses and life goes on.”

But Kalaba has not been so fortunate despite being eligible for the final leg against Algeria on September 5 after serving a one match suspension for the first leg in Lusaka on September 2 home leg.

Kalaba is on suspended for the first leg after accruing two yellow cards in the qualifiers.

“He is not part of the team for now and I have just also learnt that he has some yellow card issues. He is still part of the team and will come in at a later stage,” Nyirenda said.

With Kalaba out, Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene will captain the team in September.