By GODFREY DUBE –
SHEPOLOPOLO captain Kabange Mupopo says she will have to divide her time equally to juggle between playing football and representing Zambia at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Mupopo is one of the 28 players summoned to camp by coach Albert Kachinga for the Cameroun 2016 Africa Women Championship (AWC) first round qualifier against Namibia next month.
The African women 400m athletics champion said it will be important for her to divide her time equally to satisfy the two sports disciplines and make sure she attended training since she was the national team skipper.
“I am ready to divide my time and will make sure that I attend camp and training once I am called so that I can contribute to the improvement of sport in Zambia.
“As you know playing football is also a talent that God gave me which I cannot run away from,” she said.
She said the call to play for the Shepolopolo in AWC qualifiers was a great honour and urged fellow players summoned to work hard and ensure they qualify to the final tournament.
Mupopo, who was recently promoted from recruit to sergeant in the Zambia Army, said her promotion was a great motivation which would always remind her to work hard to make the country proud.
“That promotion highly motivated me to work hard and make my country proud in both athletics and football. There is no bigger motivation than being recognised by the Army Commander who bestowed me with the rank of sergeant,” she said.
Zambia will play Namibia in the first round of the tournament which will see the Shepolopolo play host on March 5 before travelling to Windhoek after a fortnight for the return leg.
Should Zambia overcome Namibia, then a date against either Tanzania or Zimbabwe awaits the Albert Kachinga-coached side in the second round.
The final tournament will run from November 19 to December 3 in Yaoundé.
Full list of players called has goalkeepers Wendy Kunda (Moomba Queens), Chiko Nkhoma (Red Arrows), Catherine Musonda (Zesco Ndola) and Hazel Nali (Nchanga).
Defenders are Margret Mbelemu and  Emelda Musonda (Arrows), Anita Mulenga and Annie Kibanji (Green Buffaloes), Lweendo Chisamu and Martha Tembo (Chibolya Queens), Jane Chalwe and Rachel Nachula (Zesco), and Grace Zulu (Indeni).
Milika Limwanya (Breakthrough Academy), Esther Mukwasa (Moomba), Mary Wilombe (Arrows), Barbara Banda (Bauleni  Sporting Academy), Joana Benai, Chileshe Rhoda, Penelope Mulubwa and Ireene Lungu (Buffaloes),and Mary Mwakapila (Zesco) are midfielders.
Helen Mubasa (Bauleni) leads the strikers who include Esther Mushota (Moomba), Noria Sosala (Indeni), Agnes Musase (Buffaloes), Grace Chanda (Zesco) and Misozi Zulu (National Assembly).