Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape says the team will take the upcoming two international friendly matches against Colombia very seriously.
Mwape who was speaking after Monday’s morning training session at Nkoloma Stadium said he wants to assess the fitness of his players first ahead of the serious program set out for the Women’s World Cup preparations.
Mwape believes the friendly match will help the team get ready for their Group rivals Costa Rica who he feels play a similar type of football.
“The plan again is to look at some new players and how fit they are before we start our serious preparations,” he said.
“We just have to tell them to be serious because it’s a high profile friendly match. They need to work hard to win the games which will also motivate them.”
“We are just looking at Costa Rica, Colombia is in the same continental and we are sure they will play a similar game. We want to learn about them and use that in the World Cup,” he added.
Strikers Rachel Kundananji, Rachel Nachula and Prisca Chilufya have made a return to the Copper Queens set up after missing the WAFCON and the COSAFA.
The team will however be without skipper Barbra Banda who miss the two games due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in China.
Mwape is hoping to face a full strength Colombia side to test his players accordingly.
The former Nchanga Rangers player also wants at least three or four more friendly matches against high profile teams to prepare well for the global showpiece.
“The foreign players are performing well where they are. They are not new to the set up so it will be easy for them to join the other players because they know our type of play.
I hope Colombia will use their first team players so that we can see how our players can match up,” he said.
“Moving forward we still need 3/4 profile friendly games from Europe, We have Spain in the group.”
“It is not the first time we miss the captain. We still wanted to see her but there is nothing we can do at the moment. She helped us win COSAFA so we will miss her,” he added.
The Copper Queens and the Las Chicas Superpoderosas will face off in two international friendly matches on November 12th and 15th in Cali.
The Copper Queens are in Group C for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.
FULL PROVISIONAL LIST
(GOALKEEPERS)
Leticia Lungu (Zesco Girls), Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Hazel Nali (Fatih Vatan Spor Kalubu-Turkey), Agness Banda (National Assembly)
(DEFENDERS)
Esther Banda (BUSA), Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes), Pauline Zulu (Elite Ladies), Vast Phiri (Zesco Girls), Bertha Imponene (Police Doves), Margaret Belemu (Hakkarigucu Spor-Turkey), Judith Soko (Yasa Girls), Elizabeth Nachivula, Mary Mulenga (both Red Arrows)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Evarine Katongo (ZISD), Ireene Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Susan Banda, Mary Mambwe, Mary Wilombe (all Red Arrows), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Girls), Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Eneless Phiri (Police Doves), Misozi Zulu (Hakkarigucu Spor), Siomala Mapepa (Elite Ladies), Grace Chanda (Madrid CFF-Spain)
(STRIKERS)
Ochumba Oseke Lubandji (Red Arrows), Prisca Chilufya (Red Arrows), Rachael Nachula (Zaragoza CFF-Spain), Rachael Kundananji (Madrid CFF-Spain)
