By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
SPORTS Minister Vincent Mwale has urged the Zambia Under-20 women soccer team to beat South Africa during this Sunday’s Papua New Guinea 2016 FIFA World Cup first round first leg qualifier at Nkoloma Stadium.

. Mwale

Mwale said he saw no reason why South Africa should leave the country happy after this Sunday’s game because the Zambian team was good and had proven they can beat any team on the continent.
The Minister said Government wants the team to qualify for the 2016 World Cup and that nothing should stand in the way.
“We wish the Zambia Under-20 all the best. We want them to qualify to Papua New Guinea for the World Cup. They have proven before that they can beat any team on the continent.
“We have beaten South Africa before, we have also beaten Zimbabwe who used to beat us every time, we now beat Namibia and even Tanzania,” he said.
Mwale said making it past South Africa goes with preparedness and expressed hope that the Osward Mutapa coached side was putting in every effort to make sure they rise to the occasion.
“So I am not scared of South Africa and I believe the girls should not be, we have beaten them before but since football is a game of 90 minutes, it goes down to how well we prepared for that time but we shall qualify for Papua New Guinea,” he said.
Meanwhile, SANDRA MWILA reports that Zambia Under 17 boys coach Chris Kaunda says there is massive football talent in Southern Province which will help form a strong national team.
Kaunda said in an interview from Choma where the Airtel-FAZ talent search youth tournament got underway yesterday to select boys and girls to attend national trials in Lusaka.
He said the competition amongst the boys and girls was overwhelming as they are all eager to play for the national team. Kaunda explained that during the provincial Airtel-FAZ talent search, 10 boys and five girls will be selected from each province for national trials to be held in Lusaka.
“I am impressed as there is massive talent in Southern Province, the competition is high because they all want to play for the national team,” he said.