March 4, 2022

Is Copper Queens’ Bruce Mwape underappreciated?

Veteran coach Bruce Mwape took over the reigns of the Copper Queens from Albert Kachinga in 2018.

Despite steering the Copper Queens to success while at the helm, the former Roan United coach is yet to convince according to some women football followers.

The argument is that he lacks the tactical intelligence and his coaching is old fashioned.

While Kachinga took the Zambia Girls Under-17 to the World Cup in 2014, Mwape has gone on to achieve more.

The soft spoken coach has guided the Copper Queens to back to back African Womens Cup of Nations.

The Copper Queens were also the only African country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Bruce Mwape gives instructions to Babra Banda of Team Zambia during the Women’s First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (Photo by Alex Livesey – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

What is missing from his CV is winning the Cosafa Cup and reaching the Women’s World Cup.

In 2019, Mwape’s Copper Queens were runners up to South Africa at the Cosafa Cup.

Surprisingly while FAZ use Women football as one of their success story, Mwape’s effort is still under appreciated from the fans.

As the Chipolopolo Boys continue to slump, fans will be glued to their screens in July 2022 as Mwape and the Copper Queens represent the country in Morocco.

Zambia’s coach Bruce Mwape (L) speaks with Zambia’s forward Barbra Banda during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (Photo by Kohei CHIBAHARA / AFP)

“He is like a father figure, if not more than for most girls in camp,” a top Zambian journalist who has travelled with the team said.

“There a lot of issues involved with coaching girls and you see how Mwape and his team handle all those issues.

“It’s actually easy to coach men as there are less issues off the field.

To some fans, he has done a recommendable job for Women football.

For now the jury is out there for Mwape to convince his doubters that he is the man for job.