Junior Shepolopolo optimistic
Written by Millennium on July 31, 2019
MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
ZAMBIA women Under-20 national soccer team assistant coach Kape Saili is bubbling with confidence ahead of her team’s participation at this year’s inaugural COSAFA tourney slated for Port Elizabeth in South Africa from August 1.
Saili said that the team was confident of good performance at the tournament because of the adequate preparations it had put in.
She told the Sun Sport in an interview said the confidence stemmed from the fact that the team had been in camp for about three weeks which had seen improvements in the performance of the girls.
She said the team had polished up areas where it was lacking having experienced a few minor hitches and setbacks.
“We are confident because in the weeks that we have been in camp there has been tremendous improvement on the part of the girls, of course we had minor hitches but we have got past them,
“This is an inaugural tournament for the Under-20 and we are targeting a positive outcome, I can’t exactly say we are under pressure to replicate the senior men’s victory but we are confident that we shall not disappoint the masses,” she said.
The former national soccer team player said participation in the tournament would be determined by the first games in which her side will face eSwatini on August 2 before taking on Botswana in the second game on August 4.
“This is the first time we are playing eSwatini but we shall not be complacent. And our last game will against Tanzania on July 6,’’ she said.
The team left for South Africa on Wednesday and will join their senior compatriots who are also in that country taking part in the COSAFA senior women tournament.
The full team is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Anna Mukumbuta, Edith Zimba (both from Yasa Queens) Memory Namonje (Green Buffaloes).
Defenders:Thelma Phiri (National Assembly), Mapalo Kapindula, Sarah Jere ( both Breakthrough Sports Academy), Constance Kamusa, Diana Banda (both Bauleni United).
Midfielders: Mary Mambwe, Glory Maweta Chilenga (both Red Arrows), Evarine Suzeni Katongo (Luyando Academy), Loveness Malunga (Liso Girls), Elizabeth Mupeso (Green Eagles).
Strikers: Lydia Mubanga, Maylan Mulenga( both Green Buffaloes). Florence Kasonde (Yasa Queens), Precious Nsama (Solwezi Academy) Thandiwe Ndhlovu (Zesco Girls), Christine Kalange(Moba Queens) Salome Phiri (Bauleni United).
