Margaret Belemu- The Copper Queens speedy right back with flamboyant hair
Zambia Women’s national team last month made history as they qualified for the 2020 Women’s Olympic Games billed for Tokyo after clinching the sole automatic ticket from Africa.
The Bruce Mwape tutored outfit defeated Cameroon 2-1 in their second leg of the final round encounter of the African Women’s Olympic qualifiers to book their spot on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate draw.
One of the key members of that history-making squad is the speedy right back with flamboyant hair, Margaret Belemu.
The Red Arrows ladies defender is one of the key pillars of the squad with her brilliance both on and off the ball.
Belemu started playing football about 11 years ago during her school days in Kalingalinga before moving to Lusaka Foundation two years later.
“I started playing football in 2009 at school. My uncle Mr. Belemu introduced me to football he was managing a school team called Jesus Army and currently called Yasa queens,” Belemu told the ZamFoot Crew in an exclusive interview.
The 23-year old says a football career for a female is not easy many people feel its a man’s job. She is however confident that things will change soon.
It’s not easy because a lot of people know that only a man can play football but I convince them by working hard.
“Yes, that’s my everyday prayer to see football in Zambia improving mostly when it comes to women. I am very happy that women football is improving every day meaning very soon sponsors will come on board,” she added.
The former National Assembly player like many others had to work hard to gain the support of those around her.
“The time that I started playing football only my Dad was in support he was the one buying me boots and everything that I needed to use and mum wasn’t because she wanted me to concentrate more at school, so what I did was to balance school with football so that I could gain her support which I did.”
Belemu one day dreams of being a coach when she hangs up her boots and wants to study Physiotherapy.
My plans are, to be a women coach one day and I also want to study physiotherapy
Belemu is one of Red Arrows Ladies and Copper Queen’s star players and is currently employed as a Civilian under the Zambia Airforce (ZAF).
The Copper Queens debut appearance at the leading international sporting event, The Olympics will, however, be delayed for approximately one more year due to the worldwide outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus.
This International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local Organising Committees late last month confirmed that the Olympics will now take place from Friday 23rd July to Sunday 8th August 2021.