Kundananji outlines Zambia mission at Three Nations Tournament

Zambia women national team striker Racheal Kundananji says the Copper Queens will use the Three-Nations Tournament as one of the platforms to come up with a strong team that will compete for glory at the WAFCON next year.

Hosts Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe will face off of in the Women’s tournament at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. Kundananji says the tournament is important as it will help the coach assess the new players who have been included in the team.

The Bay FC striker noted that the tournament will be key for team bonding and unity ahead of the WAFCON.

Zambia will come up with good team for WAFCON

“…this tournament is important because it will be used to check every player and see how ready they are to be in the team. It will help us make a good team, assess how fit we are, and come up with a good team for WAFCON,” Kundananji told FAZ Media.

“As you can see, the coaches have included younger players from the junior national teams and other players who have been absent from the team but are now back. So, this is the time to check every player and see how they are doing.”

And Kundananji has urged new players who have been included in the squad to provide strong competition to the old players so that coaches become spoilt for choice.

Meanwhile, Kundananji says playing against Malawi at the 3-Nations Tournament won’t be easy considering that the two teams are using the tournament to prepare for the WAFCON.

“Our opponents are not pushovers, so we should focus. Even though it’s a friendly game, we have to take it seriously because this is the time they are making a team for WAFCON. Nobody in their team knows whether they are going or not, so this is the time to pull up our socks and do our best,” added Kundananji.

Zambia and Malawi are using this tournament to prepare for the WAFCON, where they have both qualified. This is coach Nora Hauptle’s 26-member squad that will be going to Malawi for the 3-Nation friendly.

(FULL SQUAD)

(GOALKEEPERS); Chishala Mfunte (Green Buffaloes), Catherine Musonda (Red Arrows), Hazel Nali (Zesco Ndola Girls).

(DEFENDERS); Margaret Belemu (Red Arrows), Memory Nthala, Rachael Nachula, Magaret Gondwe (all Green Buffaloes), Blessing Maluba (Nchanga Queens), Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba (both Hakkarigucu-Turkey), Judith Soko (Zesco Ndola Girls).

(MIDFIELDERS); Susan Banda (Cekemekoy-Turkey), Grace Chanda (Orlando Pride-USA), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls), Evarine Katongo, Natasha Nanyangwe (both Green Buffaloes), Ireen Lungu (Sichun-China), Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows).

(FORWARDS); Regina Chanda (Zanaco), Maweta Chilenga (Green Buffaloes), Prisca Chilufya (Angel City-USA), Mercy Chipasula (Kamfinsa), Rachael Kundananji (Bay FC), Penelope Mulubwa, Eneles Phiri (both Zesco Ndola Girls), Mupopo Kabange (Henan WFC-China).