Junior Chipolopolo pick positives from Moroccan tour

ZAMBIA Under-15 national team assistant coach Owen Kaposa says the Junior Chipolopolo have gained the exposure needed to become better players after recording a draw and a loss to Morocco in the two international friendly matches played in Casablanca.

After giving up their lead to draw 3-3 in the first match, the Junior Chipolopolo couldn’t learn from their mistakes and allowed Morocco to come from behind to win the second game 3-1 at the Mohammed VI Complex.

After a goalless first half, the Junior Chipolopolo broke the deadlock a minute after the hour mark thanks to Mapalo Simute’s perfect finish from inside the box.

It took Morocco just two minutes to get back into the game and grabbed the equaliser through Goumfissi Mouad.

Morocco went ahead seven minutes after the equaliser through Bennane Ilyes’ who benefitted from Zambia’s clumsy defending.

Ten minutes before the final whistle, Morocco stretched their lead by two goals when Achhab Saad made it 3-1 to seal the win for the hosts.

“We started very well we had clear chances, we had one-onone chances on three occasions but you know how football is, once you miss such chances you get punished. We played a very highly tactical Moroccan side like the first game it was the same, they had to come from behind and made us to make a lot of mistakes behind,” Kaposa said.

Kaposa however noted that the outing in Morocco has been very encouraging for the Junior Chipolopolo.

“The young boys have been exposed and we have to thank FAZ and the Moroccan FA through FIFA. It has been amazing looking at the facilities, the pitch. I think the boys have been really encouraged,” Kaposa said.

“The boys will never be the same looking at the way they have performed in these two games, we have just been with the boys for a few weeks now but the way they have come up, given time they will be better players,” he said.

For the young left-back Jimmy Banda, the two games against Morocco presented the young Chipolopolo the experience they need to develop.

“The performance of the team was amazing, we did our best but unfortunately we have come out short to the Moroccan side,” he said.