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ZAMBIA Under-20 womens soccer team coach, Charles Bwale has said scoring without conceding when the team plays Equatorial Guinea this weekend would be crucial in keeping the World Cup dream alive.
Bwale, who named his 18-member squad ahead of departure tomorrow for the Saturday clash needing to overturn the 2-0 second round, first leg defeat, said the only strategy that will see Zambia beat their hosts would be to score as many goals without conceding any.
Speaking in an interview after a morning training session at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka yesterday, Bwale said the team has been physically and mentally prepared for the huge task that awaits them in Malabo.
“I am happy with the response from the players and I feel they are mentally prepared for the game. The girls know the challenge that lies ahead of them and I am sure they will execute the job right. Scoring more than two goals and not conceding is all we need to qualify for the next round,” he said.
Bwale has left out defender Elina Nyirenda, who missed the 2-0 defeat owing to injury, from the squad and has included Under-17 goalkeeper Hazel Nali
The team has goalkeepers Susan Nalwamba and Hazel Nali with Emeldah Musonda leading the defenders that comprise Jackline Mulenga, Matrin Daka, Anita Mulenga, Lwendo Chisamu and Grace Zulu.
Rachael Lungu, Joan Benai, Milika Limwanya, Natasha Witika, Ireen Lungu, Astridah Pupe, Mary Mwakapila and Barbara Banda are the midfielders with Misozi Zulu and Jane Mubanga the only two strikers.
Meanwhile, SANDRA MWILA reports that Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili has urged the team to emulate the Under-17 women team by qualifying to the final round and eventually for the World Cup finals slated for Canada.
Kambwili said the team needed to put the 2-0 defeat behind them and focus on winning the upcoming encounter as everything was possible in football.
“It is possible to come from behind, the girls should not be discouraged by their defeat but must play to win and do Zambia proud. Let them play for mother Zambia and defeat Equatorial Guinea and emulate the under 17 team that has qualified to the World Cup in Costa Rica,” he said.
The minister said the Government believes in the Under-20 girls and still have hope that they will qualifier to the world cup just like the Under-17 girls.
SOURCE: Times of Zambia
Evening it depends on when you get the message I’m miriam lubinda from namibia…I would like it if sir could be my coach please…I love playing soccer I even play for our school team but those people don’t take us seriously. ..They only care about the boys soccer team there’s one boy that qualified he is playing soccer now all over the would he is now currently in Germany…I really want to be like him I want to show the coach of our school that girls can also do the same as boys ..I’m only 16 years old with the dream of becoming a professional soccer player…In grade 7 I was picked to go play for our country in Botswana but they said that I was over age but at least they could have looked for a team because know I’m training but for nothing….so please sir help me out or at least see if u could find me a team…