Zambia U-15 national team coach Chisi Mbewe says his main focus as the team heads to Croatia for the second edition of the Eight-Nation ‘Vlatko Markovic’ Invitational Tournament is the development of the players.
Mbewe believes developing players is the most important factor in this age group. He is however alive to the fact that a winning mentality has to be instilled in the players from this young age.
“It has not been an easy journey from the day we started up to today when the team is leaving for Croatia. It has been so competitive. This is the first step for these young boys to compete at this U-15 tournament. I believe the way we have planned and prepared the boys will do their level best but the main focus with this age group team is on developing the players,” he said before departure for Cairo.
“We should also train these boys to compete and have a winning mentality so that it’s part of their DNA.”
The team will make a stopover in Cairo and will play an international friendly match against Zamalek SC youth side, A match the Red Arrows gaffer feels will set the tone for the tournament.
“An important friendly match before the tournament so that the boys have a feel of what to expect in Croatia. It’s very important and will set the mood heading into the tournament,” he said.
Captain of the side Lyson Banda is confident the team will record positive results in Croatia.
“We will work hard and do our best in this tournament. The training has been good with our very capable technical bench. They Zambians should trust and have confidence in us that we will bring the trophy here in Zambia,” he said.
Zambia will start their campaign against North Macedonia on 23 September before facing Bosnia and Herzegovina the following day. They will wrap up their Group B run against Romania on 25 September 2020. Other countries participating in the tournament include hosts Croatia, Qatar, Montenegro, and Bulgar
