By SANDRA MWILA –

NEWLY appointed Zambia women Under-20 soccer team coach Oswald Mutapa Junior has unveiled a 30 member provisional squad for the Papua New Guinea 2016 FIFA World Cup first round qualifier against Tanzania.
Mutapa was named Under-20 coach by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and his first task will be an away fixture against Tanzania on the weekend of July 10 to 12 with the return fixture set for July 24-26.
FAZ communications manager Nkweto Tembwe said in an interview yesterday that Mutapa, a former under-20 boys coach, will be head coach and be assisted by Beauty Mwamba and Charity Nthala.
“We have appointed Oswald Mutapa as Under 20 women national team coach as the team regroups tomorrow (today) for the World Cup qualifier against Tanzania,”he said.
Meanwhile, the winner of the Zambia versus Tanzania tie will advance to the second round to play either South Africa or Botswana in September.
Should Zambia negotiate past the second round, then the third and final round will be a match likely against Nigeria. The qualifiers on the side of Zambia’s third round possible opponents starts with a preliminary round between DR Congo and Gabon.
The winner will then play Namibia for a place in the second round to face the victor of the Nigeria versus Sierra Leone or Liberia tie from which a third round winner will be known to face Zambia, provided the team reach the last stage.
However, it will be the first round match that will excite Zambians especially after the Shepolopolo was eliminated 6-5 on aggregate by Tanzania in the race to for a place at the 2015 All Africa Games (AAG) finals.
The provisional squad has Hazel Nali (Nchanga Queens), Chiko Nkhoma (Red Arrows), Wendy Kunda (Moba Queens), Edina Phiri (Chibolya Girs), Musole Ng’ambo (National Assembly), Barbra Banda (Bauleni United Sports Academy), Margret Belemu (Red Arrows) and Memory Phiri (Green Buffaloes).
Others are Grace Chanda (Zesco Ndola Girls), Theresa Chewe and Mary Wilombe (Arrows), Astrida Pupe (Moba Queens), Ireen Lungu (Buffaloes), Natasha Witika (Breakthrough), Jackline Nkole (Olympic Youth Development Centre), Martha Tembo (Chibolya Girl), Miniva Chitika (Zesco Ndola Girls), Elizabeth Nachivula (Assembly), Elina Nyirenda (Bauleni), Osala Kaleo (Arrows) and Regina Kanyamboma (Nchanga Queens).
The rest are Judith Zulu (Bauleni), Maclean Daka (Breakthrough), Lweendo Chisamu (Buffaloes), Hellen Ng’andwe (Arrows), Esther Nakalange (Moba Queens), Chishimba Chishimba (Nchanga Queens), Rose Cheelo (Sable Queens), Agness Maseba (Buffaloes) and Sylvia Bwalya (OYDC).