Under-21 netball team begins campaign

By SANDRA MWILA –
THE Zambia under-21 netball team today starts an ambitious campaign for a slot at the 2017 World Youth Championship when they face South Africa in an African qualifier in Botswana.
Zambia will be aiming for a win against South Africa to brighten their chances of finishing among the best three teams at the continental competition in order to qualify to World championship that Botswana will also host next year.
Botswana has already booked a slot in the World championship by venture of being host of the qualifiers which open the door for one more African country at the championship.
Zambia coach Kelly Bwalya said his team had adequately prepared for the tournament and that the players are in Botswana to qualify to the World YouthChampionship.
Bwalya said it won’t be an easy tournament but he was full of confidence that his team will come out with good results.
He said South Africa was a strong team and that it meant Zambia will have to dig deep to get a result that will help the team build momentum in the tournament.
“The team is well prepared for the tournament; we are in Botswana to ensure that we qualify to the World championship.
“We are facing South Africa in the first game and our target is to win to better our chances of qualifying,” Bwalya said.
Teams that are participating in the tournament are hosts Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland,  Namibia, Uganda and Lesotho.
Zambia’s traveling team has Marian Musonda,  Ethel  Pamba,  Rhoda  Zulu, Esther Kunda,  Marjory   Mushanga,  Mwale Kalonde, Justina  Mwale,  Bertha  Zimba, Bertha  Zimba, Bertha Simakaloyi, Manyandu Saili and Beseya Katete.