Coach Bruce Mwape has declared his team ready for the two FIFA window international friendly matches against Colombia.
Mwape says the games will help him assess the levels of his players as he wants to avoid carrying dead weight to the World Cup.
The Copper Queens gaffer has set his eyes on playing a good game when the two teams meet tomorrow and on Tuesday.
“The team is ready, all the players are ready, the only players we are not sure of are the foreign based because we have only been receiving reports of their performances,” Mwape said.
“We want to make sure we don’t carry passengers when going to the World Cup, even foreign based players who won’t be performing we will not carry them.”
“When we play Colombia our target is just to play good football and see how the team is shaping up,” he added.
Mwape has revealed that he will give chances to young players and rest some experienced players who have played a lot of games.
“The players just have to focus on the game and be serious. This is not a time to relax. The message is loud and clear,” he said.
“We want to work on the central defense , we want to see other players. The two have played a lot of games and I am sure they are even fatigued.
“During the first game we want to see some of the new players, we all know that the two central defenders have played a lot of games so they need a bit of rest and we want to give a chance to all the new players.”
“The result , Yes, somehow it will matter because if we don’t do well it will dampen the morale of the players,” he added.
Winger Avell Chitundu says the team will use the game to gauge themselves ahead of the World Cup.
“We are very ready for the friendly because it will give us a picture ahead of the World Cup. The preparations are good and we are ready to face any team,” she said.
“We won the COSAFA and we are motivated but we can’t relax because we will be facing tougher teams.”
Zambia plays Colombia on November 12th and 15th in Cali in FIFA A grade international friendly matches.
The Copper Queens are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica while Colombia will face Germany, Morocco and South Korea in Group H at the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
