Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda has set her sights on helping the team reach the knockout stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following a group stage elimination in 2021.
Zambia is still basking in the joy of making it to the Olympics after beating Morocco 3–2 on aggregate in the final round of qualifiers, thanks to the never-say-die spirit of the team.
This will be the second straight time that the team will play at the Olympic Games, having first played at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games that were played in 2021.
While the event was memorable for Banda, who scored back-to-back hat-tricks against the Netherlands and China, the overall run was dismal, with the team losing by a cricket score (10-3) to the Dutch, drawing with China, and losing 1–0 to Brazil.
‘We want to compete’- Banda
This time around, the players are looking to make amends.
“We are looking forward to going further [than] the group stage, despite the last time we went there, we came [out] in the first round but this time we are aiming for the second round,” Banda said.
It, however, will not be easy, as they have been placed against the heavyweights in the women’s game. Bruce Mwape’s team will have to navigate past the USA, Germany, and Australia in Group B.
“I think the preparations have to start now because, looking at the group that we are in, it is a very tough group,” Banda said. “But what I know is that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, [so] preparations have to start now so that we go there to compete and not to participate.”
Meanwhile, Banda has described her promotion to the rank of staff sergeant in the Zambia Army as motivating.
“This has motivated me and others that have been promoted. This is huge; we are so happy and humbled,” Banda said.
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