The Zambia Women’s National team will this morning start their campaign in the Alanya Women’s Cup as they face off with North Macedonia.
The World Cup bound Copper Queens will be looking to test themselves against the Macedonians as part of their preparations for the prestigious tournament.
Head Coach Bruce Mwape says his team is ready for the tournament and that he wants to work on individual defending which was the mistake he saw in the two losses against Colombia last year.
Mwape says his team will take this tournament very seriously as they are in Turkey to prove a point and play good football.
“We are ready for the tournament because we started our preparations three weeks ago. This tournament will help us in terms of preparing for the World Cup,” he said.
“In the Colombia game we had lapses in defending. The group marking was okay but we want to work on individual marking.”
“We will take the game seriously because we have a lot to prove and people expect us to play a good game. We have shown by qualifying to the World Cup that we can do it so we need to be serious, even the players know that they have a huge task ahead. They need to pull up and work hard and prove that we will be able to do well when we go to the World Cup,”he added.
Defender Margaret Belemu also echoed her coach’s sentiments and wants to see more high profile friendly games ahead of a ‘difficult’ World Cup group.
“We are here for the tournament and tomorrow we play the first game and all I can say we are ready,” Belemu said.
“I am hoping that the tournament will help us prepare for the World Cup and it’s good we have started our preparations early.”
“Preparations are important and we need high profile friendly games because we are in a tough group with teams like Spain,” she added.
Turkey based goalkeeper Hazel Nali is expected to start between the sticks ahead of Catherine Musonda and Eunice ‘Toaster’ Sakala.
Margaret Belemu, Martha Tembo, Agness Musesa and Lushomo Mweemba are expected to make up the back four.
In Midfield the female Computer, Ireen ‘Xavi’ Lungu and the enterprising Evarine Susan Katongo are expected to be joined by either Hellen Chanda or Mary Wilombe.
Women’s League top goalscorer Ochumba Oseke Lubanji will lead the attack at the Miracle Sports Complex this morning flanked by Misozi Zulu and Xiomara Mapepa.
Prisca Chilufya, and Hellen Namwinga Mubanga are also working hard for a starting berth and could easily be the ones on the team sheet come 10:00 hrs.
Youngsters Judith Soko, Esther Siamfuko, Esther Banda and Pauline Zulu are also available for selection.
Spain based trio of Rachel Nachula, Rachel Kundananji and Grace Chanda together with skipper Barbra Banda are expected to be available for the second game.
