Zambia U17 Coach Carol Kanyemba Urges Focus and Hard Work Ahead of COSAFA Title Defense

Lusaka, Zambia – Head coach of the Zambia U17 Girls’ National Team, Carol Kanyemba, has stressed the importance of focus, hard work, and humility as her side prepares to defend their title at the upcoming COSAFA U17 Girls’ Championship.

Speaking ahead of the regional tournament, Kanyemba acknowledged the pressure that comes with being champions, noting that every opponent will be determined to take down the reigning titleholders.

“It’s not easy being a champion, and maintaining that championship is very difficult,” she said. “We know every team we meet will come at us very strong and very hard. So, we’re telling the girls not to be complacent or comfortable—they must work hard because every team wants to beat us.”

While Kanyemba believes the team’s status as defending champions and FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers gives them an edge, she stressed that pride alone won’t be enough to secure victory. “We must take every game seriously,” she said. “The record we set last year adds pressure, and opponents will prepare even harder against us.”

The coach emphasized that the team’s recent World Cup qualifying campaign has provided invaluable experience. “We played against very strong teams, and while we respect the COSAFA competition, the World Cup qualifiers are a different level entirely. The setup and the mindset of the teams are very different,” she explained.

Zambia’s squad for this tournament features a number of fresh faces, following the absence of several key players in their last match against Benin. Kanyemba revealed that these new players, introduced during the qualifiers, have gained confidence and should now be ready to step up at the COSAFA tournament.

“This is a great opportunity for them to gain more experience as we continue preparing for the World Cup,” she said.

The COSAFA tournament’s age restrictions—allowing only players under 17—have ruled out several stars, including Chipasula Les and Wendo Mela, who are turning 17 this year. Kanyemba sees this as an opportunity to scout and nurture new talent.

“While we lose some experienced players, it opens the door to tap into new talent and give them exposure at this level,” she noted.

Kanyemba also took a moment to thank fans for their unwavering support and welcomed constructive criticism. “We appreciate the support they’ve always given us. We also appreciate the critics—because that alone pushes us to work harder and achieve better results,” she said. “We pray they continue supporting us and continue criticizing us as they always do.”