By Moses Pedro Mwanza
Four years ago, The Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team was drawn against Botswana Under-17 Women’s National Team in the 2018 Uruguay FIFA Women’s World Cup preliminary first-round qualifier match.
This was another litmus test for the Copper Princesses to qualify for a second Under-17 Women’s FIFA World Cup after their maiden appearance in 2014 in Costa Rica.
The first leg of the preliminary round was played at Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium on October 15, 2017, and the Copper Princesses edged the Young Mares with a comfortable 5-2 scoreline with the hero of the day in that match being National Assembly prolific striker Felistus Christabel Phiri who scored 4 of the goals and this was arguably her best performance for Zambia.
Captain of the side Lydia Mubanga scored the other goal for Zambia while Michelle Abueng and Lone Gaofetoge scored a goal each for Botswana.
A fortnight later, Zambia traveled to Botswana and the Kaluba Kangwa drilled lasses, unfortunately, failed to replicate their home ground performance as they suffered an embarrassing 4-nil defeat away in Gaborone in the return match and their dream for a second World Cup appearance was shattered after going down 6-5 on Aggregate.
Skillful and talented Michelle Abueng who was recently on the books of Football Association Of Zambia (FAZ) Women’s Super League side Yasa Queens and Lone Gaefetoge who is now with Lusaka Dynamos Ladies Football Club finished off the business at home with Abueng scoring a hattrick while Gaefetoge put the icing on the cake to make it 4-nil in favor of the Young Mares who cruised into the next round and set up a derby date against Bantwana of South Africa.
From that team which played in the 2017 qualifiers, 90% of those young players have been consistent on the field of play both at their clubs and the National level.
As a result of that, we have seen an excellent transition in the team because of consistency and hard work.
While some may not have developed as anticipated most of those girls graduated to the Under-20 and were part of the Zambia Women’s Under-20 side that minted Silver medals at the Inaugural 2019 COSAFA Under-20 Women’s Championship in South Africa after a painful defeat at the hands of the Twiga Stars of Tanzania losing 2-1 in the final.
Among those who graduated from Under-17 to 20 is the then captain of the side Lydia Mubanga (Green Buffaloes Women Football Club), Mary Mambwe, Oseke Ochumba Lubanje (both Red Arrows Women Football Club), Anne Mukumbuta (Yasa Queens), Salome Phiri, Constance Kamusu(both Bauleni United Sports Academy), Thelma Dyongela Phiri(Indeni Roses), Christine Thandy Ndhlovu(Zesco Ndola Girls),Christine Kalange(Moba Queens) and Diana Banda(Luyando Foundation Girls).
With some new additions to the team like Enelesi Phiri, Lungowe Namasiku, Xiomela Xiomara Mapepa, Loveness Malunga, and the Brilliant captain of the side Evarine Suzan Katongo coach Charles Haalubono has a good side that can easily qualify to the World cup with good preparation and proper guidance.
The Zambia Under-20 will face Ghana this weekend in the 2022 Costa Rica FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifier third round second leg encounter in Accra set for 18th December 2021 with the aggregate scoreline being at 0-0.
