Zambian football legend Kalusha Bwalya says his country can become a power again, but only if it gets its priorities right.

Kalusha, who is in Zambia for a two week visit from his club in Mexico, said he wants to make sure the country improves so he can rest easy.

Zambia's recent performances have troubled him.

"I have spent half of my life in this cause. It will always affect me when we don't do well," he said. "Every time we fail to perform people ask me what is wrong."

"We must stop shooting ourselves in the foot. Consistency is what we need, and a proper youth policy".

Bwalya said Zambia's win in Sudan in Nations Cup qualifying was a great result, especially without Germany-based professionals Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone.

Coaching conundrum

Bwalya did not blame them for refusing to play.

"I agree with the two boys, though it's a difficult situation to choose between country and club," he said.

"I don't think you expect them to play, especially when their league has just resumed. These players are important to Cologne as well as Zambia."

The former captain was again asked whether he was interested in coaching the national side.

"What disappoints me is that every time I am here, people ask me that question. But when I am not here, there are people I respect who insult me," he said. "There are some who forget what you've done for your country for 21 years, and that annoys me."

Most of Bwalya's team-mates were killed in a plane crash in 1993.

He said he was happy that the Zambian government had at last decided to pay the victims' families compensation.

"It's long overdue. That accident is something that changed everybody's life. Those people died for a good cause and they have to be honoured, he said.