Costa Rica /Panama 2020: Zambian coach, Haluboono vows to beat South Africa

South African U-20 player takes on an opponent in a recent match.

Harry Awurumibe with agency report
Zambia Women’s U-20 coach Charles Haluboono has said that his side are determined to use home ground advantage to the fullest against South Africa when both countries meet in this weekend’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica /Panama 2020 preliminary round first leg qualifying matches.
Haluboono’s side will host South Africa tomorrow Saturday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka in the African qualifying race for the Costa Rica/Panama tournament in August this year.
Zambia returns to competitive action exactly six months after they finished second at the inaugural COSAFA U-20 Women’s Cup in South Africa under coach Haluboono where they lost 2-1 in the final of the regional tournament to guest side Tanzania.
“We cannot look at past glory, all we have to do now is seriously look at the new game but we expect the best from them,” Haluboono said.
But Zambia and South Africa dodged each other at Nelson Mandela Bay last August where hosts finished third.
“Yes I know they (South Africa) have good players and performed quite well at the COSAFA, but we will not look at them as the best but equals in football,” Haluboono said.
Haluboono has also kept faith in over eleven players from the COSAFA U-20 silver winning team who include striker Maylan Mulenga who won the tournaments Golden boot with five goals.
One of the notable additions to the team is midfielder Ochumba Oseke Lubanji who comes with some experience from the senior team.
Meanwhile, South Africa will host Zambia in the final leg during the weekend of January 31-February 2.
The overall preliminary round winner will face Botswana or Namibia in the first round in March.