Zambia Women National soccer Team head coach Bruce Mwape has named his 20 member final squad for the for two international friendly matches against Chile in Santiago.
The team is led by skipper Barbara Banda who plys her trade in China. Mwape has also summoned Spain based duo of Rachel Nachula and Hellen Mubanga together with Israeli based Mary Mwakapila.
Mwape has surprisingly dropped first choice goalkeeper Nali Hazel , first choice right back Margaret Belemu, midfielder Irene ‘Xavi’ Lungu and striker Prisca Chilufya who were part of the 2020 COSAFA Women’s Championship squad.
Nali and Belemu were very instrumental during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifications and have been key players since 2018. Mwape has also ropped in two U-17 stars in skipper Esther Siamfuko and midfield ace Esther ‘Gelo’ Banda.
The team leaves for Santiago tomorrow (Tuesday) and will play the first game on November 28 before concluding their tour with the second match on December 1.
The two international friendly matches are part of preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games while Chile is preparing for their last gasp playoff with Cameroon to decide the final ticket for the Olympics.
FULL SQUAD:
(GOALKEEPERS)
Catherine Musonda (Indeni) Ngambo P. Musole (Zesco)
(DEFENDERS)
Agness Musesa, Anita Mulenga , Martha Tembo, Lushomo Wilombe (all Green Buffaloes), Vast Phiri (Zesco), Esther Siamfuko (Queens Academy), Fikile Khosa (Red Arrows),
(MIDFIELDERS)
Judith Zulu (Green Buffaloes), Esther ‘Gelo’ Banda (Bauleni United Sports Academy), Mary Mulenga, Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows), Misozi Zulu (Indeni), Mary Mwakapila (Hapoe’l Beer Sheva-Israel)
(STRIKERS)
Hellen Mubanga (CFF Zaragoza-Spain), Grace Chanda (Zesco), Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Maylan Mulenga (Green Buffaloes), Rachel Nachula (CFF Zaragoza -Spain)
The Zambian coaches disease. Always victimising key players for very petty reasons I am sure. The same fate that befell Kalaba. Now the men’s team is in 6s and 7s.
Good idea of having international friendlies since they can help a lot to improve the performance of our Zambia national women’s soccer team and the technical team should utilize such situations seriously
Why drop your two best players when you could have just sanctioned them financially for disciplinary issues? To grade seven mentality ba coach…nonsense! Be the parent!!
kala nyenga po ka chikala naiwe dont you know the system, naiwe
Uwakana dropped ka chi kala ka Bruce imbwa fye ata se
umwaiche ali ka kanina