Jere was a fan favourite at the recently held Cosafa Women’s Championship, where she was the Copper Queens’ top scorer with four goals.
She scored her first international goal against Angola, scoring twice to lead Zambia to a 3-1 victory in their second group-stage match.
Jere was not done; she scored from the penalty spot in Zambia’s 5-1 victory over the Comoros.
Her solo goal against Zimbabwe in the semifinals propelled the Copper Queens to the final, where they were defeated 2-1 by Malawi.
“I was overjoyed to finally play for the national team,” Jere said on ZNBC TV 3’s Sports Hub show. “It’s something I’ve been praying for. I really wanted to play for the national team. I really wanted to know how it felt to play an international game, so I gave it my all.”
She revealed that it was easy for her to fit in with the national team because her club coach, Florence Mwila, believed in her abilities.
“I was confident, especially since my club coach, Florence Mwila, was there. I was confident because she knows how I play.”
Mwila was in charge of the Copper Queens at the 2023 Cosafa Women’s Championship as head coach Bruce Mwape took a back seat.
From playing street football to the national team
Jere, who began her career in Lusaka’s Chaisa township, was scouted while playing street football with boys in her neighbourhood and went on to join Tamanga Academy in Emasdale before transferring to Zanaco.
“I used to play street football with boys; that’s how coach Edson Sialubata saw me and gave me a chance to join the academy in Emasdale.”
Before Zanaco was promoted to the FAZ Women’s Super League, Jere scored 29 goals in 33 games and provided 17 assists in the provincial league.
She said her dream is to play in Europe and she will work hard to achieve it.
“My dream is to play in Europe one day. I will not rest until I make it to Europe and play for Arsenal,” she revealed.
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Jere, who has a reputation for scoring from outside the box in the local Women’s League, is inspired by many female footballers, but Barbra Banda, with whom she played when she was younger in Bauleni township, has recently become her new role model.
“Barbra Banda has been my inspiration recently; she plays well and I want to reach the level she is at.”
