Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape is happy with the way the players are shaping up in training ahead of the two international friendly matches against Botswana.
Mwape roped in a number of new players into his squad and he is happy with the way they are blending in with the old players.
Midfielder ace Rhoda Chileshe is back in the squad after a long absence following a knee injury. Mwape is happy with her progress but believes she has a lot more work to do to get back to her best.
“So far so good, all the players are responding well to the training. No problem apart from one who was sick, Esther Siamfuko,” Mwape told the ZamFoot Crew after Wednesday’s morning training session.
“Looking at how they are responding to our training sessions I think the National League is helping. The players who selected from the select side are doing well.
” Rhoda Chileshe has recovered fully but needs time,” he added.
The Copper Queens will face the Mares of Botswana in two international friendly matches and Mwape believes they will the team shape up ahead of the AWCON.
“Those two encounters will help us, especially the new players, We have already got a team but we will mostly be looking at the new players,” he said.
“There is a lot we want to see from the players. We are trying to expose them so that they get the experience of playing international games. We looking at the central defense and upfront. We only have Ochumba who has just matured and we are just building new strikers.”
A number of foreign players will join in later on as the AWCON nears and Mwape is keeping a close eye on all of them.
“Those that are playing outside we know them and are established so I don’t think there will be a problem when they come back. For new players, we need more time so that we come up with a good players that can compete for positions with the foreign-based players,” he said.
“Barbra has not yet gone back, Nachila is doing well in Spain and so is Kundananji, the problem is with Hellen Mubanga who has not yet started playing.
“In fact we want her ( Barbra) to join her teammates at the national team to keep fit with them,”
“We will know our opponents but there is no easy game. All team’s who qualified fought for those places. I expect the games to be fair.”
Zambia will play Botswana who have also qualified for the Morocco 2022 AWCON on Friday, April 29, and May 2 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka as part of their first phase of preparations.
Draws for the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be held on Friday at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat with the 12 qualified teams expected to know their opponents.
Shepolopolo have not shown marked improvement under this fella. Still adopting kick and run style! Maybe Faz need to rethink composition of the technical bench.