Zambia Under-17 qualified to the semifinals of this year’s Cosafa Junior Championships currently taking place in Windhoek, Namibia after beating Botswana 8-0 in their final Group B match yesterday.
Wedson Nyirenda’s team needed to beat Botswana by at least seven unanswered goals to be guaranteed a top of the pool finish in Group B ahead of Malawi who beat the Baby Zebra’s 6-1 on Sunday.
Malawi and Zambia had earlier drawn 1-1 in their opening Group B game on Saturday and finish on 5 points each though the latter topped the pool thanks to a better goal difference.
Zambia against Botswana secured their automatic semifinal place thanks to goals from Nkana midfielder Rabby Lwambula and Lusaka Dynamos winger Tom Bakala in the 8th and 13 minutes respectively.
Chilenje Academy’s hot-shot striker Patson Kaimana finally opened his Cosafa Junior Championship account with a brace in the 29th and 45th minutes of the match.
Zanaco midfielder Chisamba Lungu scored one in-between Kaimana’s two goals to give Zambia a vital 5-0 lead into the break.
Second half strikes from Ronald Ross striker Humphrey Maseneko and TP Rangers midfielder Crispin Lungu stretched Zambia’s lead against the Baby Zebra’s.
Mazabuka United midfielder Raymond Simakoloyi recorded his second goal of the tournament following his equalizer against Malawi in that weekend draw.
Zambia will face Zimbabwe in a 16:00 Namibian time kickoff.
Zimbabwe qualified to the semifinals after also amassing 5 points from their two Group C matches following 1-1 draw with hosts Namibia in game one before defeating Angola 2-1 on Monday.
South Africa are the only semifinalists with a one hundred percent record after crushing Lesotho 5-0 on Saturday before beating Mauritius 3-0 on Monday.
The defending champions will face winner of the semifinal playoff between Lesotho and Malawi who were by press time in action in the battle for Wednesday’s penultimate stage slot.
The finals of the revived Cosafa Junior Championships will take place on Saturday December 15.
The last Cosafa Under-17 tournament was held in 2002 that hosts South Africa won in a round-robin tournament.
Well done baiche. Make sure you go back to Zed as champions. Good luck.
This is incredible.
You get into a game knowing that you MUST beat your fellow by atleast 7-0 to qualify and you manage to beat them 8-0 ? Goodness me!!!
Baiche muli fipolopolo
Long Live The King
Long Live Zambia
Guys Didier Drogba is a true African. I have never seen a player more patriotic. We have seen players like sichone and co refusing to play for Zambia. I mean who are these players compared to Drogba. Drogba just made a powerful statement that has really touched me. ‘Do you know what it means to be African? No coach will stop me from playing in the cup of nations. In the past we have seen Sichone and others turning down the country. This is a lesson to all of them.Other players must follow suit.
Good news from the young Chipolopolo boys. We are glad!!
People update me please …. what has happened to Peter Kaumba?
kwena baiche muli bakali! well done young bullets. We the talent and the potential to go places. Lets go boys!!!
Congrats young Chipolopolo for that netball scoreline against the young Zebras. I wish we could hammer teams from the West and North Africa with such scorelines.
This is good news but don’t get carried away. The level of competition is very low here.
Jo#3
I agree with you players like Drogba shame the likes of Sichone and Benni McCarthy even Mwape Miti who became big-headed when they earned big money in Europe. But dont forget you have such great players right there in Zambia. Kalusha never turned down any national team call up. Charles Musonda, Johnson Bwalya these guys turned up each time they were called. Frederick Kanoute is equally great. He turned down a French national team call-up because he wanted to play for Mali!!
Jeff Windhoek,Did the U-17’s play against Zimbabwe in the Semi-finals.What was the result?
Sibs RSA- Bad news here in windhoek for the under 17,they were 1 all against zimbabwe in the semis after full time but lost on pelnalties 5-4.they are set to meet malawi in the third and fourth play offs.
Thanks Jeff, though it is sad news again Yaba!I would like support the Faz President T.Mulonga as reported in the Times of Zambia on awarding R.Kalaba the Player of the Year award.As he explained Kalaba missed games for the red cards and Zesco was fined for the cards.Why punish him twice by deducting points from him.As i said what of Defenders and defensive Mid fielders who are most likely to get Red and Yellow Cards the don’t stand a chance of winning the Most Valuable Player Award.
Hard luck baiche. Penalties are like lottery. Keep it up and work hard.
yes Sibs, it’s a good decision, he deserves it. it’s more of an achievement for a midfielder to score goals than a striker. if Mayuka had won we would wonder why Kalaba didn’t, but he did win and no one thinks it is unjust. If a player is clearly making more a nuisance of himself then he is clearly not an mvp. Of course it is a concern if you are high profile player, surely the league wants people who can set an example and be more professional.
keep up the hard work under 17’s. we all believe in you.
also, in addition to being more professional. now in the off season, the FA and top teams should be looking to raise their standards significantly ahead of next season, given the need at international level and new tv deal.
Seen from afar,#13,i agree with you the League is looking for players who will be good role models to up coming young stars.Thats what Kalaba needs to work on,his promised to do something concerning discipline.We will hold accountable next season.