Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape has called for patience from Zambian supporters following two consecutive defeats at the Paris Olympics, urging fans to look ahead with optimism as the team prepares for its final group match against Germany.
“It’s not the end of the world,” Mwape said. “This is not the last game we have played; we have other tournaments to come. They just have to be patient. You can lose today, but there is always next time. When we win next, they will be happy.”
Mwape hinted at adopting a more defensive approach in the upcoming match against Germany to avoid further losses.
Zambia has struggled defensively in their opening games, conceding three goals against the USA and six against Australia in an 11-goal thriller. However, Mwape emphasized the importance of avoiding another defeat as they aim to return home with a positive result.
“Germany is a strong team, so we need to play a compact game. If we play an open game, we will end up losing, which we can’t afford. We want to go back home with a win or at least a draw, but the best outcome would be to secure a win.”
Mwape remains focused amid calls for his sacking
The defeat against Australia, where Zambia led 5-2 before losing 6-5, has led to calls from some sections of Zambian supporters for Mwape to step down. Nevertheless, Mwape remains focused on the task at hand, expressing the significance of a potential victory over Germany, especially after securing a draw in their Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games.
“A win would mean a lot,” Mwape stated. “In Tokyo, we only managed a draw, so if we get a win, it will show that there has been some improvement compared to the last tournament.”
Despite the pressure from fans, Mwape believes that supporters are still behind the team, understanding their frustration but asking them to move past the recent losses.
“I understand they can’t be happy because we have lost two games in a row. As far as I know, at the moment, the fans are behind this team. That’s why they can even be upset, but they should forget about these two games.”
Mwape remains optimistic about the team’s future, expressing his desire to continue leading the Copper Queens and improve in upcoming tournaments.
“We still have more tournaments to come. Next time, we will try and play better than we have played.”
