THE Copper Queens have given the nation something to talk about away from the usual politics.
The team’s victory over Senegal in the quarter finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCOM), taking place in Morocco has created excitement and a collective euphoria across the nation.
Once again, sports has shown that it has the ability to unite the nation across the political divide.
The positive result from the women’s team has once again rekindled the nation’s winning spirits and this has had everyone clapping for the victorious girls.
The victory over Senegal also propelled the team to the World Cup to be held in New Zealand and Australia next year. This feat is a first for the senior women’s national team hence the excitement and general euphoria.
Now that the girls have shown that they have the ability to win on the international stage, it is important that both the Football Associates of Zambia (FAZ) and government take the team seriously by providing adequate financial support.
We know for instance that Government always finds money for the Chipolopolo boys to undertake national duties, including paying for international friendlies and camping. Yes, this is a good thing which should continue but must be extended to the women’s team in equal measure.
We know that government has promised the girls $21, 500 each which is equivalent to K363,350 .
So far the girls have earned over US$10,000 each for reaching the semifinals.
Some more exciting pledges are needed to motivate the already goal achieving girls to go even higher and fight to grab the continental trophy.
Let the national excitement translate into positive offerings to the girls. For instance, Mr Charles Chanda, president of the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) has offered the team some plots as appreciation for the victory over Senegal.
We need more of such offerings from the corporate world to come forth to show appreciation for the team taking Zambia to the World Cup.
It must be noted that qualification to the World Cup comes with a lot of benefits for the countries that male it.
FIFA, the World’s football governing body pays an automatic financial handout for each country that qualifies to help with the preparations.
One does not need to guess what such windfall means to cash-strapped associations like FAZ.
Playing at the World Cup also opens many opportunities for players being able to be signed on by clubs in major leagues.
The trickle down effect is that the national team gains from the experiences of such players.
With the World Cup qualification also comes the goodwill that the country will enjoy. We can only wish the Copper Queens more success at the on going WAFCON tournament and make Zambians walk tall. As they did at the last Olympic Games as Africa’s sole representatives.
