By SANDRA MWILA –

ZAMBIA Under-17 soccer squad coach, Chris Kaunda says his team’s ultimate goal is looking beyond beating Botswana but securing qualifying for the Niger 2015 Africa Junior Championship.
In an interview at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka after yesterday’s training session, Kaunda said the technical bench’s plan was not concentrated on beating Botswana in the second round first leg clash on Sunday but making a historic qualification to the continental junior competition.
He said the players have shaped up well for the match and that all the players summoned to the squad had fought hard to be in the final squad to be announced today.
“I can tell that the players are set on qualifying for the Africa Junior Championship and not just beating Botswana this weekend. Yes, we have to focus on Botswana but we must also bear in mind that our goal is to reach the finals,” he said.
Kaunda called on the fans to rally behind the team in its quest to secure qualification especially that the players had put in a lot for the match which he bragged that Zambia would win even if it was to be played today.
“We are not worried as to how Botswana prepares for this match as our focus is to beat them to achieve our goal. I have told the players to play a good game and enjoy themselves but must be wary of the Tswana’s who will be coming here with a defensive approach,” he said.
Botswana arrived in the country on Wednesday evening and yesterday were expected to play a friendly match against FAZ Division One south side, City of Lusaka at Woodlands Stadium.
Meanwhile, Spanish football giants, FC Barcelona will this month send two coaches under their highly productive structure to Zambia for a two-day coaching clinics for local trainers in Lusaka.
The two, Isaac Orio Guerrero Hernandez and Daniel Bigas Alsina are coming under the partnership FC Barcelona has with SABMiller in which Castle Lager is the official beer brand for the Spanish giants.
Zambian football is drawing benefits from this partnership through the partnership of Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and Zambian Breweries, which is a member of the SABMiller Group.
FAZ communications manager, Nkweto Tembwe said yesterday that the coaching clinics would be held in Lusaka on July 30 and 31 with the association technical directorate set to pick a total of 30 coaches from various clubs in the country.
“In its continued efforts to assist not only Chipolopolo, but the entire football fraternity in the country, Zambia Breweries will bring to Zambia two renowned coaches from Spanish football giants Barcelona.
“National team coaches will also be attending the two-day course. We are excited because this course will bring in quality to our coaches and football,” he said.