Zambia Women National Team U-20 defender Bertha Imponene has been awarded Free Education for the remainder of her high school after an impressive display for the Young Copper Queens who were in action recently.
Mr. Kenneth Muleya, the Headteacher at Mt. Makulu Secondary School declared free education to Imponene who is in her final year upon her return from U-20 National duty as a way of encouraging more girls who are in sports to consider Education as a tool to success and also to work hard.
Mr. Muleya has also directed that a party be held in honor of her commitment.
Imponene was not the only player from Progress Sports Club who was awarded free education, her teammates who are also pupils at Mt. Makulu Secondary School Justina Zulu and Mary Siamukande who are doing Grade 8 and 12 respectively also benefited from the Headteacher’s gesture.
Justina Zulu who is an attacking winger was exempted from paying her Grade 8 school fees while Mary Siamukande who is was also an attacking Winger was exempted from paying her grade 12.
Siamukande represented Zambia in Athletics at the regional level at the 2018 Zambia Schools Sports Association(ZSSA) games which was hosted by Botswana.
Imponene who plays for FAZ Women’s League side Progress Sports Club made her National team debut for the Under-20 Women National Team tutored by Coach Charles Haalubono in the team’s 2-nil home loss at the hands of South Africa in the 2020 Costa Rica/Panama FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup preliminary Round Qualifier which was played at Nkoloma Stadium on 18th January 2020.
She went on to feature in the return match between these two sides which ended 2-2 and was played on 1st February 2020 at Orlando Stadium but the result wasn’t good enough for the team to progress to the next round as they bowed out 4-2 on aggregate.
The Progress defender also featured in the Young Copper Queens’ 1-nil win over the Young She-Flames of Malawi in an international friendly match played on 28th January 2020.
Imponene is a natural left-footer who may soon make a mark in the National Team defense on the left-back position but she can also play at the heart of the defense.
Progress Sports Club is a Lusaka based team which is making its debut appearance in the 2019/20 Football Association of Zambia(FAZ) Lusaka Province Womens League.
The Club is coached by Josephat Maimisa who is also a Physical Education and Sports teacher at Mt. Makulu Secondary School.
