Chipata Girls were relegated from the Women’s Super League to the National Division One League following a difficult debut season.
Chipata Girls managed to record 6 wins, 4 draws and lost 24 times during the entire season finishing seventh position on the log.
Their team captain, Esther Mbewe who featured 34 times for her side recounts her experience in the 2023-24 Super League season. Esther, 20, started playing football in 2016.
Since joining the fast-improving women’s football, Esther has spent eight seasons with Chipata Girls, helping the team win promotion to the Zambian Women’s Super League during the 2022-23 season, becoming the first side from the region to achieve the feat.
She says her role model is World’s most expensive female player and Copper Queens striker, Racheal Kundananji.
She recounts the football experience earned from playing the super league that saw her and her teammate traverse the country, facing teams such record league-Champions, Green Buffaloes, Zesco Ndola Girls, Red Arrows Womens, Elite Ladies among other sides.
“My stay in the super league was good because I have learnt a lot from other players and other teams. I have gained a lot of experience being the first time playing super league” she said.
Esther targets quick comeback to Super League.
“I felt bad being demoted to national division one but understand because it was our first time to play super league, we were meeting experienced players and experienced teams who have been playing super league for a long time” she stated.
Esther who was once called to the Copper Queens camp in 2021 has set a target of winning promotion to the Super League.
“My target for national division one is to bounce back in the super league. I once was called up to the senior women’s national team, and it was a great experience,” the woman said.
She has a warning to teams in the upcoming National Division One League 2024-25 season.
READ ALSO: Barbra Banda continues firing in NWSL.
“Teams need to watch out because as Chipata Girls, we have a mission to retain the Super League. The message to teams in division one is that let the best team carry season”
