Zambia U17 WNT coach Carol Kanyemba believes Friday’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024 match against Brazil can help market the local league.
The Copper Princesses comprise only locally based players coached by a locally assembled technical bench and Kanyemba feels the team can use the match to show the potential of the Zambian players.
The Copper Princesses will open their World Cup account against Brazil on Friday.
“We have been with these girls since January, we have been working on their weaknesses and perfecting their strengths. We are confident in this team since we chose it and the girls have so much confidence in themselves and they love to work together which is an encouraging thing. They want this a lot,” Kanyemba told the ZamFoot Crew.
“Brazil is a big team with an experienced technical bench but we will be able to show the potential we have as a country in terms of coaches and the players. It will show the potential of our players and the coaches and also market our local league.”
“We’re telling them to believe in themselves. We have respect for Brazil, but we’re going to play our game. We’re going to show the world what we are able to do as well. We’ve told the girls to unleash their potential, show the world what they have as well and enjoy the game,” she added.
Kanyemba says the team is adapting to the hot weather in the Dominican Republic and the one week in that country has helped the team settle.
“The weather is very hot here but we will get used to it and we will get there. The days are getting closer and here we are. We have been waiting for this since we qualified,” she said.
“Considering the weather difference, the one week here has helped. We know what to do at what time. We are still adapting but we are almost there.”
The match will kick-off at 01h00am at the Estadio Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo.
