By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

THE Zambia under-17 women team yesterday failed to leave for their proposed two-week training camp in the United States of America (USA) ahead of next month’s Costa Rica 2014 FIFA World Cup due to visa and flight complications.
The team was set to depart Kenneth Kaunda International Airport via Amsterdam in Holland before connecting to Miami to set up base in readiness of the World Cup that kicks off on March 15.
But by yesterday, the Costa Rica-bound squad was still awaiting visa issuance from the American Embassy as coach Albert Kachinga took the team for a training session at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) general secretary George Kasengele said in an interview that the association has since engaged the Ministry of Home Affairs to help out with the matter.
Kasengele said he was optimistic that the junior team will fly out by tomorrow or Friday.
“Right now, we are waiting for the visas from the American Embassy and the flight has since been rescheduled to between Wednesday and Friday but definitely not Saturday. The ministry is helping us on this one,” Kasengele said.
Kasengele further explained that there was also a possibility of changing the flight connections by avoiding passing through Amsterdam if the team flies through Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
He said ticketing was being done by the FIFA and that any changes to the flight routes was handled from the Swiss headquarters and then communicated to FAZ.
As a result, Kasengele said Football House will only be able to confirm the departure date and time of the team once FIFA had finalised on the route and dates.
“Initially they should have left in two batches, one leaving at 12:55 hours and the other at midnight (yesterday) before linking up in Amsterdam and then connect to Miami as one group.
“So until FIFA advises, we are not going but the assurance we have is that they will go between Wednesday and Friday and definitely not Saturday. We remain optimistic and the team remains focused on the task ahead,” he said.
Kasengele said initially, FIFA had booked for the team to fly straight to Costa Rica from Amsterdam but the two-week training camp the girls will have in the USA made FIFA make changes to the flight route.
The team has goalkeepers Edna Phiri, Hazel Nali, and Musole Ng’ambo while the defenders are Chimwmewe Mwale, Mulai Wilombe, Mary Mulenga, Martha Tembo, Bridget Lungu and Given Mukamba.
Midfielders are Barbara Banda, Grace Mulaisho, Osala Kaleo, Margret Belemu, Ireen Lungu, Helen Chanda, Natasha Witika, Judith Zulu while Jane Mubanga, Grace Chanda, Memory Phiri and Penelope Mulubwa are the strikers.