Football coaches, players, clubs, and the Confederation of African Football have all continued to honor the late Norin Betani, the striker for the Copper Queens.
In the 2024 Paris Olympics Women’s Football Tournament qualifier against Ghana on Friday, Betani, who featured for Indeni Roses Football Club in the Women’s Super League, was named to the preliminary squad.
The 24-year-old died on Wednesday at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka following a diagnosis of malaria.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has sent condolences to Zambian FA and the family of late Copper Queens striker Norin Betani.
In a letter to FAZ president Andrew Kamanga, the CAF chief expressed profound sorrow at the death of the Betani.
“It is with profound sadness that I learnt of the passing of Norin Betani, player for the Zambia Women National Team and Indeni Roses,” said Motsepe.
Zambia Under-20 Women’s team head coach Charles Haalubono has described Betani as a committed, hardworking, and tactically disciplined player.
Haalubono worked with Betani during Zambia’s preparations for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Betani was part of the Rest Squad when FAZ arranged the All Stars versus the Rest on 17th April, 2022 as a prelude to the 2022 WAFCON tournament.
“FAZ made arrangements to have the All Stars versus the Rest team. We played with the national team, All Stars, and we drew 0-0 and Norin made the WAFCON provisional team,”
“Betani was a disciplined player”- Haalubono.
Haalubono said it is sad for the country to lose such a young and energetic footballer.
“She was a good player, committed to football, always hardworking, and tactically disciplined. We have lost a very good player, so young, full of energy, and talented,” he stated.
The Copper Queens also held a minute’s silence prior to their training at the University of Ghana ground to honour the late striker.
Indeni Energy Company, sponsors of Indeni Roses, through its Chief Executive Officer, Evans Mauta, has pledged to support Betani’s family during the time of the funeral.
READ ALSO: Copper Queens striker dies ahead of Olympic qualifier against Ghana.
“We wish the family God’s strength in these difficult times of losing a loved one. As a company, we will be with you during this period. We will be engaging with you from time to time on how we can lighten your burden during the mourning period,” said Mauta, patron of Indeni Roses.
