By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Zambia senior women national team has intensified preparations for the 2020 Cosafa Women Championship set to kick off on November 4 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
And speaking during an interview after a morning training session at Edwin Imboela Stadium yesterday, Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape said the team is in good shape with no injuries.
Mwape said the team’s target is to win this year’s regional competition after winning silver at the 2019 edition.
“The plan is to come back as winners because we have participated in the COSAFA for many years and reaching the final last year was an indication that we can also be champions for the COSAFA tournament.
“This time around, people are expecting us to win the competition because of being the champions representing Africa at the Olympics. All our fans are expecting us to start on a good note buy winning the COSAFA,” Mwape said.
Mwape said the Copper Queens will play two friendly matches with local clubs as they prepare for the Cosafa tournament.
Meanwhile, the Shepolopolo coach said two foreign stars in Barbra Banda and Rachel Kundananji could join the team after the leagues in China and Kazakhstan finished.
“We have Barbra in China. The league just ended and if she comes next week we will be able to look at her fitness if need be she will be included in the team that will go to south Africa and even with Kundananji it is the same story she might join the team,” Mwape said.
Zambia will compete alongside hosts South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Comoros Islands, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, while East African team Tanzania will participate as the guest nation. The group stage draws for the championship will be held on October 20 and the eight participating teams will be split into two groups of four and challenge for a place in the semi-finals.
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