Zambia Women’s national team boss Bruce Mwape says to morrow’s friendly match against South Africa is a game he will use to gauge players and not necessarily focus on a result.
Mwape who was speaking to the ZamFoot Crew before departure for South Africa this morning said the girls are prepared and expect them to do well.
“We are prepared and we expect our girls to do well although we have taken long to play a friendly game since the Chile trip all the same the girls are ready,” he said.
“The girls were training with their clubs so on fitness I think we are okay, Except that this is a different team altogether and they have not been together for a long time.”
” It is a way of assessing the team, this is the right time for the locally based players to show that they can make it to the team going to the Olympics. The new players have been showing what they can do but the best way to assess them is during the game,” he added.
Spain-based Rachel Nachula linked up with the team in South Africa this morning. Mwape reiterated the importance of discipline for players especially when they are not in camp.
Mwape was also quick to heap praise on late call-up Margaret Belemu saying she is one of the experienced and key players in the Copper Queens squad.
“We are always in touch with the players (who play abroad), Everyone is okay only Hellen Mubanga is recovering from an injury,” he said.
“The most important thing we tell players is to have self-discipline when we not with them in case they want to do something else. They need to keep themselves safe because the Olympics will be a chance for them to market themselves properly.”
“Belemu has been with the team for a long time, she is one of the experienced players. She is one of our dependable players,” he added.
Zambia will face off with Banyana Banyana of South Africa at the Bidvest Stadium, in Millpark tomorrow at 15:00 hrs and will host Kenya’s Harambee Starlets on 24th April in Lusaka as part of preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
