YOUNG CHIPOLOPOLO FACE LESOTHO

…as Young Copper Queens coach Kangwa names squad

ZAMBIA’S Under-17 national soccer team begins its title chase at the 2021 Region Five games against hosts Lesotho in a Group A fixture at Setsoto Stadium.

Coach George Chilufya has named an 18-member squad for the tournament which kicked yesterday in Maseru and ends on December 9.

In an earlier interview, Chilufya said the junior Chipolopolo would fight to win the first game which is key to the team gaining the needed morale to challenge for the title.

“The first game is always important and we believe we are going to start on a good note.

“We have a great combination of players. The under-15 boys, some of whom travelled to the aborted AFCON in Morocco so they have the experience, they have the exposure and they have competed for positions in the team,” Chilufya said.

Chilufya said says his charges are ready for the 2021 Region Five games where

Zambia will compete in group A alongside Lesotho and eSwatini.

Chilufya has recalled seven players from last year’s group that picked silver at the regional championship in South Africa. Leading the pack is last year’s joint top scorer Joseph Sabobo Banda, best goalkeeper Eric Makungu and enterprising midfielder Frank Chileshe.

The majority of players graduating from the Under-15 team competed at the second edition of the “Vlatko Markovic” Eight-Nation International Tournament, in Croatia last year.

Meanwhile, Zambia Under-17 women’s national team coach Kaluba Kangwa has named his final 18-member squad for the Cosafa Region Five Games in Lesotho.

Zambia will kick off their campaign tomrrow with a tie against Botswana at Setsoto Stadium before playing Namibia on Saturday.

The final group match is against Zimbabwe on Monday with games being played on a * round robin basis.