Kangwa confident of success at COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championships
Zambia coach Kaluba Kangwa has named his final selection for the 2020 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship as the side played to a 1-1 draw with the senior women’s national team in a friendly on Thursday.
Both sides used the game as a warm-up for their respective competitions, with the senior side to take part in the COSAFA Women’s Championship that runs from November 3-14.
The Under-17 tournament is from November 4-14, with both events in South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bay.
The tune-up will have been vital for both sides in terms of fitness and game-time, with Inonge Muyamwa on target for the Under-17s. Mary Wilombe equalized for the senior side.
Kangwa has declared his team ready for the competition as they open their tournament against South Africa on Nov. 4, before facing Tanzania (Nov. 6), Comoros Islands (Nov. 10) and Zimbabwe (Nov. 12).
The top two teams in the round-robin pool advance to a final that will be played on November 14. “We are happy with the fitness levels and the girls are ready for the event. We are working on the final touches to make sure that the girls do not forget where we are coming from and what we have been doing,” he said.
“We are using the round robin system which we think is a fair system because of the number of teams. The intensity of these games will help the girls to operate under pressure and help the girls understand what it means to play at a tournament of this magnitude.”
Kangwa said the target was to do better than their third-place finish at the 2019 edition in Mauritius.
“We are aiming to bring the trophy back home and this is our target with the girls,” he said.
Zambia squad:
Goalkeepers: Chitete Munsaka (Rockets), Musonda Catherine Daka (Lusaka Dynamos), Mirriam Sikaduli (Musport)
Defenders: Martha Kitila Banda (Busa), Luty Kamanga, Judith Soko (both Yasa), Esther Sianfunko (Queens Academy), Nandhipa K Mkombe (Lusaka Queens), Comfort Selemani (Solwezi Academy)
Midfielders: Shelly Masumo, Esther Banda (both Busa), Bupe Banda (Football Chance), Beauty Zulu (Luyando Girls), Tionge Sambo (Progress)
Strikers: Esnart Mukumbwe (Linso Girls), Margaret Taonga Chulu (Busa), Tisilile Lungu (Kafue Celtic), Jackline Nambeya (Busa), Melisa Mataba (Yasa), Cindy Banda (Blessing)