By GWEN CHIPASULA –
ZAMBIA Under-20 women soccer assistant coach, Beauty Mwamba has cautioned the junior Shepolopolo against under-rating Tanzania when the two teams clash in the Papua New Guinea 2016 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Mwamba said the junior team should draw some lessons from the senior squad which was knocked out by Tanzania’s Twiga Stars in the race to the 2015 All Africa Games.
Zambia drew Tanzania in the first round of the Papua New Guinea 2016 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
She noted that the junior Shepolopolo would not have it easy but only needed to work hard because Tanzania was beatable.
“The draws are just okay provided we do not under rate any of the opponents like we did with Tanzania at home,” she said.
On the Under-17 drawing South Africa in the first round of the Jordan 2016 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, Mwamba, who was head coach for the team in 2011 and 2012, said hard work was the only way the local lasses could overcome Zambia’s fierce regional rivals.
“It won’t be easy for them too because the wounds are still fresh after beating them to qualify to the World Cup (Costa Rica 2014),” she said.
And former senior national team player, Carol Kanyemba said the Shepolopolo needed to tread cautiously because the draws were both fair and tricky.
Kanyemba, however, said she was confident the women would perform well because most of the players who  played in the last two All Africa Games qualifiers were eligible to play.
“They already have a feel of their opponents and I believe they have mastered their strengths and weaknesses so they just need to prepare well this time,” she said.
On the Under-17 meeting South Africa, Kanyemba, a Green Buffaloes player, said she believed there was still abundant talent among the youthful women and was confident they would perform well like they did when qualifying to the Costa Rica finals.
“Most of them are inspired to start up serious football and I believe with a few good players from the previous team we can also go to the World Cup for the second time,” she said.