Youth football boosts Zambia 1st World Cup slot, Kangwa Kaluba

By Ashton Kelly Bunda

Zambia’s Renowned former U-17 Women's national team head coach Kaluba Kangwa has appealed to the Zambian football fraternity and stakeholders   to vigorously invest in strong youth soccer developmental programs if the Copper Bullets have a burning ambition to set foot to world cup finals that will take place in Qatar in the tear 2022. 

Tunisia, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea and Zambia are in Group B in the race for the Qatar 22 FIFA World Cup Group Stage qualifiers from October 2020 to October 2021 and only the top team will qualify to the final round which will comprise 10 teams.

The group winners will advance to the final two-legged, home and away knock out round in November when Africa's five representatives in Qatar will be decided.

Responding to the question as to why previous national teams have been facing challenges in the final group stages of world cup qualifiers, including the current 9 October 2019 – June 2021 quest, Kaluba said on many occasions KK Eleven National Football Team of the 1970s up the 1990s and the modern Chipolopolo boys have been facing insurmountable challenges and uphill battles when they reach the group stages where they meet North and Western African teams that are  more experienced players and well exposed skilled individuals.

“If we wish to make our dream come true of setting our foot on the grounds of prestigious world cup finals ever we need to invest youth development programs and identifying young raw talent from all the ten provinces of Zambia , you see many occasions the Zambian teams have a huge challenge when they reach the group stages during world cup qualifiers as they meet the ‘cream de la cream ‘of the African players from North Africa and West Africa who are well exposed and experienced, “coach  Kaluba explained.

The optimistic coach Kaluba emphasized that a wide horizon of junior players talent identification should be intensified around that nation in a bid make them start competing for positions and play time in the national teams and from their local respective clubs..

He said the current crop of players that consists of the 2017 Africa cup of Nations winners which was tutored coach Beston Chambeshi should be observed as most of them exhibited extraordinary desire and determination to win as well as extending their individual brilliance as played the Junior world cup hosted in Korea in 2018.

Coach Kaluba who commended the gallant players who won the 2017 under 23 Africa cup of nations hosted in Zambia led by Austrian based due of Enock Mwepu, Patson Daka , Fashion Sakala, Edward Kangwa  and defender Shamy Mayembe as well as newly identified players need stronger and skilled opponents so that they  mature as approach the Qatar 2022 world cup qualifiers that will  commence in September 2021 .

“Hoping the football association of Zambia will secure high profile friendly games with skilled opponents that will help the grow  physically and mentally , you see mental strength is the key to success as  a strong players will still fight on up to the last  whistle even when the team happens to be trailing behind,” coach Kaluba stressed.

Kaluba was also quick to mention the emphasis on investing in the local coaching staff in Zambia that can help groom young players who would mold a team   that will   create   seamless relationships   with time and adapt the coach’s philosophy.  

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches are being organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the 33rd edition of the international men's football championship of Africa. A total of 24 teams will qualify to play in the final tournament, including Cameroon who qualified automatically as hosts.

The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in men's international association football and it is governed by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). During the 1980s, they were known as the KK 11, after founding former First President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda ("KK") who ruled Zambia from 1964 to 1991. After the country adopted multiparty politics, the side was nicknamed Chipolopolo, the "Copper Bullets".