Zambia U-17 Women’s national team head coach Kaluba Kangwa says the majority of his players are struggling with fitness due to being inactive for a long time.
Kangwa is confident he and his technical bench will work on the players. Kangwa’s lasses came out third last year but he is targeting reaching the final now or even going all the way.
“The majority of the players are not in good shape. We all know the reason why the league hasn’t been active due to COVID-19, I can see that the majority of them are struggling. Very few of them can remember our concept and style of play and what we want from them,” Kaluba told the ZamFoot Crew in an interview.
“What we have done is to give the girls more information about the task ahead. The fact that this is the second time that the U-17 will be taking part in a COSAFA tournament gives us an opportunity to plan further according to the result we had last time and we think of going further.”
“Well this is our work, The girls are given this opportunity once in a long while and we have to make sure we prepare the girls for the tournament ahead. We need to prepare their mindset because COVID 19 has affected a lot of things even their mental aspect has been affected,” he added.
Kaluba went on to reiterate his statement from last year about the team four-year loan which will see the technical bench fine-tune quality players for the U-20 and Senior Women’s national team.
“We have gotten half of the team that went to the inaugural tournament and the other half is new. The idea is to continue integrating the team because if you remember the U-17 have a four-year project plan and one of the main goals is to produce quality players that will graduate to the national team,” he said.
” We are giving an opportunity to the new players to understand how to play at the National team, This is an entry point for them. We are proud that some of the girls will be graduating and going to the U-20. COSAFA has an age limit they are looking for which they are yet to avail to us hence we have called a lot of girls to come to camp.”
Cosafa has set up a tentative calendar subject to the COVID-19 situation in the region that will see the under-17 women tournament played from October 15-25 while the senior women championship is lined up for October 19-31 in Port Elizabeth.
FULL SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS)
Inghutu Muchahabali (Yasa Girls), Chiteta Munsaka (Musport), Margaret Chileshe (Queens Academy), Miriam Sikanduli, Shanice Kolala (Luyando Foundation)
(DEFENDERS)
Martha Kitila Banda (Busa), Patricia Mumba, Mirriam Mwape, Pauline Lungu (all Pataki), Jane Mulenga (Rockets), Esther Siamfuko (Choma Warriors), Margaret Yambe (Lusaka Foundation), Luty Kamanga (Yasa), Edah Lungu (Evergreen), Tefeonga Munune (Luyando Foundation), Misozi Phiri (Cabana Girls)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Shelly Masumo, Esther Banda, Margaret Chulu (Busa), Gloria Maweta Chilenga (Red Arrows), Margaret Chisenga (Green Buffaloes), Blessed Mwaba (Rockets), Josephine Phiri (Lusaka Foundation), Grace Sakala (Luyando Foundation), Nandipa Mukombe (Lusaka Queens), Joyce Nyirenda (Queens Academy), Blessings Zulu (Pataki Girls)
(STRIKERS)
Enart Mukumbwe (Red Arrows), Florence Kasonde, Melisa Mutaba (bothYasa), Tisilile Lungu, Lydia Hamaninga (both Kafue Celtic), Precious Nsama, Comfort Selemani (both Solwezi Academy), Pauline Zulu, Inonge Muyamwa (both Barca Academy), Cindy Banda (Blessing Academy), Lucy Kajiya (Rising Stars Academy), Tikule Daka (Queens Academy).
