By SANDRA MWILA –
ZAMBIA Under-17 women coach Kaluba Kangwa has dropped three players ahead of the Uruguay 2018 World Cup preliminary round qualifier against Botswana set for October 14 in Lusaka.
The three are striker Ruth Ngoma, midfielder Grace Phiri and defender Sithokozile Champa as the team got trimmed to 30 players.
Zambia hosts Botswana before travelling to Gaborone two weeks later with the winner advancing to the first round where they would face South Africa.
The winner of that match would play the victor between Morocco and Equatorial Guinea for a place at the finals set for November 13 to December 1.
Team manager Clementina Mazuba said in an interview that the team had intensified training since they went into camp a week ago.
Mazuba said technical bench would maintain the 30 players until Zambia plays the return leg on the weekend of October 27, 28 and 29.
“So far so good the girls are shaping up well. We have a good team that can beat Botswana. We are not scared of Botswana and we shall prepare adequately for them to have a better chance of qualifying to the World Cup,” Mazuba said.
She said the players were focused and would want to emulate the 2014 team that qualified to World Cup held in Costa Rica.
The full team has goalkeepers: Emeldah Chewe, Letica Lungu, Sibongile Nthanga and Isabel Banda. Midfielders: Rita Mwila, Marjory Mulenga, Thandiwe Ndhlovu, Paulina Chanda, Elizabeth Mupeso, Salome Phiri, Mary Mambwe, Jenipher Kazila, Daliso Kapindula, Ochumba Oseke, Elina Mwanza.
Strikers: Lidya Mubanga, Loveness Malunga, Mirriam Moono, Christine Kalange, Felistus Phiri.
Defenders: Rhoda Nakanyika, Sara Jere, Rosemary Nyirongo, Dianna Banda, Lillian Kunda, Margaret Bwalya, Thelma Phiri, Constance Kamusu, Limited Mulenga, Esther Siamfuko.