By Syerramia Willoughby BBC Sport, Scandinavia

Zambia captain Chris Katongo has paid tribute to former Chipolopolo coach, Patrick Phiri.

Chris Katongo is full of praise for former Zambia coach Patrick Phiri

Phiri's contract ran out at the end of March and the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) has chosen not to extend it.

"I think Patrick Phiri is a fantastic coach, he tried his best to achieve something for Zambia," Katongo, who plays for Danish club Brondby, told BBC Sport.

Phiri led Zambia to the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, beating their rivals South Africa along the way.

However they failed to get past the group stages in Ghana.

In 2007 he also took Zambia to their fourth consecutive final of the Cosafa Cup, the southern African championship, where they lost to South Africa on penalties.

"I think he achieved good things and he was fantastic for me, I was happy with him," the 25-year-old said.

"He's the one who recognised my leadership qualities and gave me the captaincy."

But Katongo refused to applaud or condemn the Faz decision to let Phiri go.

"The Football Association of Zambia is responsible for appointing the coaches, my job is to play football under the coach they employ," he added.

However Zambia defender Isaac Chansa was not as fulsome in his praise of Phiri.

They need to appoint quickly in order to start the program because we play Togo in three weeks time Zambia captain Chris Katongo

"As a player, I can be coached by anyone," said Chansa, who plays for Helsingborgs in Sweden.

"I can say I wasn't disappointed that he was let go, I was not that impressed with him, although he was a good coach.

"It's up to Faz to decide who is a good coach for the national team."

Katongo admitted that Zambia's performance at the Nations Cup in Ghana may have contributed to Faz deciding to let Phiri go.

"He just signed a three month contract; it means you need to achieve in order to continue," he explained.

"They wanted us to go to the next round (of the Nations Cup) for him to stay, but he wasn't able to do that.

"I think that's why they've decided to go for an expatriate coach."

Faz now face a race against time to get a new coach in place before the 2010 World Cup qualifiers that kick off in June.

"They need to appoint quickly in order to start the programme because we play Togo in three weeks time," Katongo said.

Zambia face Togo and Swaziland in a three-team group after Eritrea pulled out.

Chansa is supremely confident that the Chipolopolo can make it through to the next phase of qualifying.

"We have 90 or 95 percent chance of qualifying," the 24-year-old asserted.