Shepolopolo refuse to give up

ZAMBIA National Women’s under-20 team coach Charles Halubono has refused to give up on World Cup qualification dream.

Speaking after South Africa thumped the Junior She- polopolo 2-0 in the first leg of the World Cup qualifier at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Halubono said the girls could bounce back from the painful home loss when they visit South Africa for the return leg fixture.

Halubono attributed the loss to clumsy mistakes made in the first half by his players who were making their first international appearance as young Shepolopolo stars.

“We still have a game to play so there is a chance for us to progress to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers.

“We have lost yes and we made mistakes in the defense and South Africa capitalized on our mistakes and punished us. We played a very good team full of experience, so we just have to improve on avoiding making errors in critical positions,” Halubono said.

Meanwhile, South Africa women’s Under-20 national team coach Jabulile Baloyi says South Africa will prepare for a tough game when the two teams meet again in the return leg set for January 31.

Baloyi said South Africa will prepare adequately knowing that Zambia will fight hard to overturn the 2-0 first leg defeat.

Asked whether South Africa would relax after winning the first leg away from home, Baloyi said; “Not a chance. Not when you are playing against Zambia, they are not a push over team so we are going back home expecting them to come with guns blazing at us.

The winner after the two legged World Cup qualification fixture will face regional rivals Namibia or Botswana in the next qualifying round.