AFTER an impressive display that saw her score a brace against highly rated Germany, Copper Queens skipper Barbara Banda has declared Zambia ready for the World Cup that kicks off in 13 days’ time.
After a slow start to their camp in Europe, Zambia wrapped up their preparations in style, beating a full-strength Germany side 3 – 2 in their own back yard.
Banda was on top of her game scoring a brace while the other goal came from goal poacher Rachael Kundananji.
Banda could not hide her excitement after the game kicked off her post-match interview in Nyanja by saying, ‘ah ine ndine okondwela…
She said the team is ready to take on the world.
“I think the team is ready for the World Cup, everyone is pushing, we are determined, we are working as a team and all together we want to achieve one thing one day,” Banda said.
Zambia is in Group C and will be based in New Zealand where they will face Japan, Spain, and Costa Rica.
Banda said beating Germany, a team that is ranked second in the world, is a ‘dream come true’ for the Copper Queens.
“This a dream come true, Germany is not a pushover team, we have tried to push them but we have done our level best and we are still doing that,” Banda said.
Banda’s partner in crime Kundananji said the team will fight till the end.
“We are going to do our best, we are going to fight hard until the end, I want to make this [scoring] as a habit, scoring in every game and I just want to make it fun,” she said.
Zambia starts its World Cup campaign against Japan on July 22.
