Katongo gets maiden Copper Queens call-up…As Mwape reinforces squad
Luyando Foundation Girls star midfielder Evarine Susan Katongo has been handed her first national team call up by coach Bruce Mwape.
Katongo has joined the national team camp together with experienced defenders Annie Kibanji and Florence ‘Mazuba’ Tembo. Others who have been summoned are ZESCO Ndola Girls defender Lillian Kunda, Nkwazi Queens goalkeeper Eunice Sakala, Edith Zimba from YASA Queens, Vast Phiri of ZESCO Ndola Girls, and in-form midfielder Esther ‘Onga’ Namukwasa.
Katongo has been impressive for Luyando Foundation Girls in the Lusaka Provincial League and has scored 9 goals in nine games and assisted another seven goals.
The team is in camp preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They started their preparations in November last year when they beat Chile 2-1 before going on to lose 3-1 to South Africa earlier this month.
The Copper Queens were scheduled to play Kenya’s Harambee Starlets on Saturday but Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was not granted the green light to commence football activities by their government hence the match was canceled.
The Football Association of Zambia is looking at other possible opponents for the team. The Copper Queens are among the 12 teams that have qualified for the Olympics and are the only representatives from Africa.
Zambia will discover their first opponents in the draw, to be held on 21 April at 10:00 CET, at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. Zambia has been put in Pot 4 ahead of Wednesday’s draw.
The Olympics will officially run between 24 July and 9 August 2021, but sporting action kicks off two days before the opening ceremony with preliminary women’s football matches set to light up the occasion for various sports disciplines.
FULL-SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS)
Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Ng’ambo Musole (Zesco), Ingutu Muchahabali (YASA), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Edith Zimba (YASA).
(DEFENDERS)
Doreen Mwaseba, Margret Belemu (Both Red Arrows), Lilian Kunda (ZESCO Ndola Girls) Agness Musesa (Green Buffaloes), Anita Mulenga, Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba (all Green Buffaloes), Esther Siamfuko (Queens Academy), Annie Kibnaji (Green Buffaloes), Ethel Chama (Green Buffaloes), Fikile Khosa (Red Arrows), Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Florence ‘Mazuba’ Tembo (National Assembly).
(MIDFIELDERS)
Judith Zulu (Green Buffaloes), Mary Mulenga, Mary Wilombe (both Red Arrows),Evarine Susan Katongo (Luyando Foundation Girls), Avell Chitundu (Zesco), Milika Limwanya (Red Arrows ).
(STRIKERS)
Xiomara Mapepa (Lusaka Dynamos), Grace Chanda (Red Arrows), Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Ochumba Oseke (Red Arrows), Theresa Chewe (Green Buffaloes)