I ALMOST GAVE UP, RECOUNTS SUSAN BANDA

By Scoop Reporter

VETERAN Copper Queens midfield maestro Susan Banda says she almost gave up on playing for the Zambia National Women’s team after the 2014 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations which was held in Namibia and attributes her bouncing back in the team and making the World Cup cut to divine intervention.

Banda, who scored the only goal at the tournament in Namibia as Zambia held Ivory Coast 1-1 to finish bottom of Group A with a point, said she was happy to be part of the Copper Queens squad that is making a maiden appearance at the 2023 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The 33-year-old Red Arrows midfielder who is the oldest player in the squad under the tutorage of Coach Bruce Mwape said she was determined to help Zambia to compete at the World Cup which will run from July 20 to August 20, 2023.

“It feels great after being absent for a long time that I am back and going straight to the World Cup. It is a good thing. At some point, I had lost interest in coming back but it is God and thanks to the Lord because he is the one who plans for us. I was thinking of giving up but God said it’s not over,” Banda said.

The Zambia Air Force ZAF Officer who has become a key member of the squad since her return to the national team set up is hopeful that the Copper Queens will quickly adapt to the cold weather in New Zealand.

The Copper Queens who have set base in Hamilton New Zealand will compete in Group C which consists of European giants Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica.

“We are here to compete not just to participate so they should expect a good fight from us. It is very cold here and hopefully we will adapt soon,” she said.

As one of the most experienced players in the squad having made her national team debut in 2011, Banda will lead the midfield park as a holding midfielder.

Meanwhile, diminutive young midfield genius, Susan Katongo, has promised that the Copper Queens will do their level best to make the country proud at the World Cup.

“We have just a few days before the tournament kicks off and I am sure a lot of people are expecting a lot from us. Beating Germany wasn’t easy so people expect a lot from us and we are promising them that we are going to work hard. We are going to put in a good fight because we are not here to add numbers but to compete and probably find ourselves in the finals,” Katongo said.

Katongo’s prayer is to see the Copper Queens adapt to the cold weather in New Zealand after their successful camp in Germany which had a different weather altogether.

“Hopefully, we will adapt to the weather very soon. The weather is different from the one in Germany and hopefully we will cope with the weather,” she said.

Zambia will kick off its World Cup campaign on Saturday, July 22, 2023 with a fixture against Japan followed by matches against Spain and Japan.