By SPORTS REPORTER
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has clinched two international friendly matches for the Copper Queens as part of intensified preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games scheduled to take place this year from July 23 to August 8 in Japan.
FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala confirmed in a statement issued by FAZ Communications Manager Sydney Mungala that Zambia will play South Africa on April 10, in Johannesburg before hosting the Harambee Starlets of Kenya at the month end.
Kashala said they have drawn up an intensive preparatory programme for the Copper Queens that has already seen them play Chile in an international friendly that the team won 2-1 in December 2020 in Santiago.
He said the two friendly matches will help the technical bench gauge the strength of the squad ahead of the Olympic Games.
“We are working hard to ensure that we prepare the senior women’s national team for the Olympics and other tournaments. FAZ will continue building the success that women football has recorded so far,” Kashala said.
“We are happy the national league for women is already underway with three weeks played. The provincial leagues are also up and running which gives our development trajectory a great boost.”
The Copper Queens qualified to the Olympic Games for the first time and became the second team since 1988 when the men’s team made the Olympics.
The squad drilled by former Nchanga Rangers coach Bruce Mwape is in camp as preps intensify.
ntensify.
