Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda has tipped players from the recently held women’s countrywide selection exercise, which saw an All-Stars side and the Rest Under-17 face off at the Sunset Stadium in Lusaka last weekend.
The rest squad was made up of players from the inter-provincial trials held last week at Sunset Stadium and NASDEC grounds.
Following two days of competitive action from ten provincial select teams, a 24-member squad was selected to face the All Stars squad, which is made up of players from the Women’s Super League and provincial leagues.
The Rest Squad included players from eight provinces, with the select teams from Muchinga and Luapula failing to produce a single player for the final squad.
The All Stars and Rest teams battled to a 2-all tie at Sunset Stadium.
The game was used to evaluate players who could be added to the squad that will face Tanzania in the 2024 Women’s U-17 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.
‘Performance will earn you a place in the team’- Banda
When she addressed the players after the game, Banda stated that only good performances earned them spots on the national team squad.
“I just want to encourage you to continue working hard because, as I know, you all want to earn a place in the team,” she said. “The final team has not yet been made; there is not favouritism, and it is your performance that will earn you a place in the team.”
The China-based striker added, “Just wearing the national colours means you are representing the whole nation. So you need to remain disciplined so you can achieve your goals and know what you are doing.”
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The 2023 CAF Women’s Player of the Year nominee also urged the players who will make the final squad to give their all, while advising those who will not make it this time to keep working hard.
“All the best to those that will make it to the squad. To those who will not make it, it doesn’t mean it is the end of your career; keep working hard,” she concluded.
