The Zambia U-17 women’s soccer team coach Kangwa Kaluba applauded his girls despite their defeat to South Africa at the on-going inaugural U17 women’s Cosafa tournament in Mauritius.
Kangwa said he was happy with the girls because they tried their level best to beat South Africa and he believes the girls have learned a lot from the match which they lost 2-1 to south Africa.
The Young Copper Queens had equalized in the 27th minute through Maweta Chilenga after South Africa had taken an early lead in the 16th minute by Marhasi but the South Africans made sure to punish the Copper Queens with another second-half early lead in the 49th minute through captain Jessica Wade which made the difference of the two sides to send South Africa into the U17 women’s Cosafa final.
“Like I earlier on said it was a very interesting game very tactical am happy that the girls were able to come out as they did and try to challenge South Africa it’s not an easy team and am happy the girls have learned a lot they tried to push and tried to win the game but of course we saw the results..but I think this is one of the best games I have watched during this COSAFA because we have seen 28-0, 17 or 16 but this one is the true reflection that there is competition amongst the two nations there,” he said.
The Copper Queens will meet Botswana in the third and fourth playoffs and the Zambian coach believes the target of the competition was met and the rest is a bonus to the girls.
“For us is not necessarily improving because improvement you can’t just dictate it here and there but I think what is important is are the girls having a good time which is very important because they set goals and we had set goals together with the girls and have been made. What is important is to take up the silverware, whatever medal whatever position that we can take at least we want to see people in the nation are able to appreciate the girls,” he said.
The Zambia women’s U17 National team finished second in Group A, scoring a total of 24 goals with a 1-1 draw against Uganda, A 15-0 demolition of Comoros before concluding their group stage campaign with an 8-0 hammering of the hosts Mauritius.
