Zambia replace Hauptle for COSAFA tournament in South Africa

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) General Secretary Machacha Shepande has confirmed Charles Haalubono has travelled with the Copper Queens to this year’s COSAFA Senior Women’s Championship and will take charge of the team in the interim.

Shepande revealed that head coach Nora Hauptle remains in charge of the team and has been fully involved in selecting the squad for the regional tournament.

“Nora is the head coach and she selected the team for this year’s regional tournament. She travelled back to her home base to attend to an assignment and will join the team once she completes it,” Shepande said.

Haalubono to lead Copper Queens

Haalubono will lead the technical bench during the opening phase of the tournament until Hauptle links up with the team in South Africa.

Speaking after being handed the role, Charles Haalubono, who doubles up as Copper Queens assistant coach, said the COSAFA Women’s Championship is a key part of Zambia’s preparations for WAFCON.

Haalubono added Hauptle – led technical bench is treating the tournament with the seriousness it deserves as the team builds towards the continental showpiece.

“This is very important for us because it is the tournament which is leading us to WAFCON; so, it’s a big preparation stage for us,” said Haalubono. He stressed the need for the team to stay true to its identity.

“All we are doing is telling our players to play our game so that we keep our philosophy, continue with it and improve on it so that we go and use it at WAFCON and produce the desired results.”

Zambia focused to defend title

Haalubono also praised the junior players for settling in well.

“The junior players are coping well, the senior players have received them so well and they are feeling comfortable and I’m sure they have brought in positive energy,” he said.

Striker Kabange Mupopo, who last featured at COSAFA over nine years ago, is happy to be back in the squad in Polokwane. She said the team is focused on defending the title.

“It feels good as we are preparing for WAFCON. It’s a very good thing, as you know I am a senior player. I’m going there to help the young players. So this tournament is important to me and the team,” Mupopo said.

Eneless Phiri urged fans to keep believing in the team as they chase another COSAFA crown.

“We want the fans to believe in us. We will deliver. We will bring the cup again. We will not underrate any team. We don’t know how they have prepared so we need to work hard.”

Zambia, who held their first training session at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium training pitch shortly after arriving in Polokwane, South Africa, head into the tournament as defending champions having won title in 2024.