From FELIX MALUNGA –
In San Jose, Costa Rica
ZAMBIA striker, Penelope Mulubwa’s FIFA 2014 Under-17 Women’s World Cup dream came to a shattering end here after she tore ligaments in her left ankle during a training session.
Mulubwa limped off the pitch during the team’s training session at Boston Scientific grounds as Zambian lasses were going through some intensive preparatory programme ahead of this morning’s crucial Group A match against Venezuela.
The Luanshya United player, who will be celebrating her 16th birthday anniversary on March 24, could not continue training with her colleagues and the team medics gave her some first aid treatment on her swollen ankle.
Later, Mulubwa was rushed to a local hospital here by the She-polopolo medics under the supervision of FIFA medical experts.
Team doctor, Womba Kadochi said in an interview that an x-ray done on Mulubwa revealed that she had suffered torn ligaments on her ankle and would be out of action for a minimum of two weeks, adding that her rehabilitation process here would be done by a FIFA physiotherapist.
As Mulubwa’s Costa Rica dream was ending, skipper Ireen Lungu, Martha Tembo and Mary Wilombe were declared fit for action here after shaking off the injuries.
And Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili has directed that the players should be fed Zambia’s staple food, nshima for them to have energy during the World Cup engagement here.
Kambwili observed that in the opening Group A match against Italy, which Zambia eventually lost 2-0 the players seemed to have lost some steam in the second half after a fair display in the first 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, football scouts from several American universities are keeping track of Zambian players here as they search for talent for the respective teams.
Coordinator for Zambia’s camping in the United States, Geoffrey Levy said some scouts were closely monitoring the performance of individual players and that they had been keeping an eye on Albert Kachinga’s players since the pre-World Cup training camp in San Francisco.
Levy said some of the scouts were from Santa Clara University, where former American international, Brandi Chastain, who had 192 caps with the national team, was coach.
Levy, however, said the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) concerning recruitment of players demanded that sport needed to be balanced with school.
He said many scouts had interest in Zambian players but that they were not be sure about the academics.
Levy said he had a chat with Vice-President, Guy Scott’s wife, Charlotte over the matter and that the Zambia Under-17 Women”s patron promised to follow up the academic issue for the players.