Team morale high ahead of Olympic qualifier against Botswana – Copper Queens Skipper
By Lucky Mwewa Chama | October 2, 2019
Spanish based Copper Queens striker Barbara Banda says the morale in camp is high ahead of the Botswana clash in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Third Round Qualifiers in Lusaka this afternoon.
Barbara who was on the score sheet for her Spanish club EDF Logroño before joining the Copper Queens camp on Monday will be hoping to replicate her club form with the national team where she last played during the COSAFA 2018 Championships in South Africa.
“I’m happy being back with the team and I have found the team in good shape. The morale in camp is high, we are just waiting for the match tomorrow (today). I am asking the fans to come in numbers and support us,” Zambian striker Barbara Banda said.
Speaking during the pre-match conference on Tuesday, the Copper Queens skipper said she is confident to she will add value to the squad drilled by Bruce Mwape in today’s match against the Mares.
“All that I can say to the fans is that they should come in numbers to witness the game. I will be there playing for my nation and I’m very confident I will apply more value as the coach has said; he has more confidence in me. I am capable of showing what I can do,” Barbara said
Bruce Mwape earlier echoed the importance of having Barbara Banda in the squad saying she has the experience and that he will be counting on her to get the needed goals.
“It’s actually important to have Barbara in the team because, one she is the captain of the side, two she has played for this team for some time and she has been our top-scorer in most of the games that we have played. So having her in the team will actually add value in tomorrow’s (Today’s) game because we need to win this game at all cost, the game must actually end here as far as am concerned her presence will add value to the team” Copper Queens Coach Bruce Mwape said.
Barbara returns to the squad after a long absence and said she will be was ready to apply the experience she has gained from playing in Europe.
“I think I got to experience playing in Europe. I think the experience will be able to show in the game and to my teammates, I think, we will catch up soon. People were expecting the two (Rachel Kundananji and Misozi Zulu) to come so that they can see the combination of us, the European based but it’s unfortunate they’re not here. I’m here and I will represent them,” Barbara said.
The 19-year-old Legrono striker has made three appearances for her club side and scored three games for the Primera División club.
The Copper Queens will this afternoon face Mares of Botswana in an Olympics Qualifier to be played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka. The match will kick off at 15:00Hrs.
The two sides recently met during the COSAFA Women’s Championships where Zambia played out to a goalless draw against Botswana in the final Group B match before dismantling them 4-nil in the semifinals to reach their first-ever COSAFA final.