Tue, 12 Dec 2017 10:49:12 +0000
By Michael Miyoba IN Ndola
I DON’T regret having carried a team that has failed to reach the COSAFA semi-final, I’m happy they have learnt something from the tournament, Zambia Under-20 coach Mumamba Numba said.
A second half brace by Fransisco Mwepu handed Zambia victory over Swaziland yesterday at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Numba emphasised that the junior Chipolopolo’s performance was not bad as they were able to learn something from the tournament despite having failed to defend the title.
“I don’t regret that I carried a team that has failed to reach the semi-final but I’m happy with their performance as they have learnt something from the tournament,” he said.
He was happy the boys managed to win their last game.
“It was a tough game. Swaziland played well but I’m happy with the way the boys accounted for themselves. I’m happy that they were able to utilise the chances we created in today’s much which is a good thing,” he said.
Failure by Zambia to storm the semi-finals forced Cosafa to move the final of the tournament from Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to Nkana Stadium.
COSAFA chief executive officer Sue Destombes confirmed the development to journalists.
Destombes noted that it would be meaningless for a big stadium which would not be full to capacity to host a final involving youthful teams from the southern African region.
The junior chipolopolo dominated play and could have scored their first goal of the match within the first three minutes of the game but were unlucky as Edward Chilufya’s shot on target was blocked for a corner.
Prince Mumba could have put Zambia ahead ten minutes into the game but saw his shot going over the bar.
The junior chipolopolo kept pushing but could not find their first goal at the tournament as the Swazi goalkeeper Sisekelo Maseki, who replaced injured Mlamuli Lukhele, produced some stunning saves to deny the Zambian front line of Godfrey Chanda, Mwepu and Chilufya from scoring. Mwepu however stunned Swaziland with his headed goal five minutes into the second half after benefiting from Prince Mumba’s beautifully struck corner kick to put the junior Chipolopolo a goal up.
He completed his brace with another brilliant header a minute before the final whistle.
Despite the victory over Swaziland, Zambia failed to progress to the semi-finals of the youth championship as Uganda were confirmed as semi-finalists from Group A after recording a stalemate against Malawi in their last group A fixture.
Swaziland coach Patrick Dlamini expressed disappointment that his boys bowed out without a win at the tournament.
Meanwhile South Africa qualified for the semis after coming from behind to beat Egypt 2-1 in a group B fixture at Nkana Stadium.
Luvuyo Katlego and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo cancelled out Muhammad Mahfuz’s opener for South Africa to progress with nine points from three games.
