Coach Naomi Phiri has reiterated the team’s target to defend the U-17 Women’s COSAFA Championship.
The Copper Princesses started their title defense with a huge 5-0 win over last years’ runners up Botswana on Thursday at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi.
Phiri says the win is important for the team as they know that no team is easy to beat at the tournament.
The defending Champions started on a slow note before picking up and coach Phiri attributed the slow start to their warm up which was not done properly citing ‘difficulties’ prior to the game.
“For our team this is important being the defending Champions, We know that any team is not easy to beat. We are focused and looking forward to defending our cup,” she said.
“We have seen what our friend has done so we also want to defend the title.
“In Zambia we have a project of developing young players so that they can even go and feature in the senior team.”
“We did not warm properly. That’s why we started slow and then our girls caught and we upped the tempo,” she added.
Meanwhile her counterpart Tapaphiwa Tracy Gaebolae was happy with how her team played despite the loss.
“Our girls played well according to our game plan but Zambia overpowered us in midfield so we tried to neutralize that. Things happen in football and sometimes our girls lacked concentration in the match and that’s why the 5-0,” she said.
A brace from Green Buffaloes’ Namute Chileshe Bwalya, and a goal each from Harriet Matipa, Jessy Zulu and Blessings Zangose Zulu gave the Copper Princesses a comprehensive 5-0 win and a great start to the campaign.
Zambia’s next match is on Monday when they take on Comoros at the same venue with the kick off set at 10:00 hrs.
