Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development Emmanuel Mulenga in congratulating the national Under 17 team for the COSAFA win has expressed confidence that Zambian football will continue reaping wins.

Speaking at Government House, when he received the 2019 COSAFA Youth Trophy, the minister congratulated the team for their hard work and dedication and also applauded the CHAN qualification of the senior national men’s team.

“Iam happy to meet you this morning on a happy note, as I join His Excellency Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu in congratulating the Under 17 national football team for winning the 2019 COSAFA Youth Cup held in Blantyre, Malawi.

“In the same token, I also wish to congratulate the Senior National Football Team for qualifying to the 2020 CHAN tournament to be held in Cameroon.

“It is my hope that the senior team will also qualify to the 2021 AFCON and the 2022 World Cup,” he said.

The Minister called on the Football Association of Zambia to ensure excellence in all the engagements of national teams.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the teams we have, as well as the Football Association of Zambia executive are equal to the task.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm government’s commitment to supporting football and all other sports disciplines in our country.

“Football is a sport that unifies the nation and in this regard we cannot afford to have our football standards declining. It is for this reason that we hear the nation cry when we do not get positive results.

“Therefore, I encourage all stakeholders starting from the FAZ executive, the technical bench and players to put in your very best so that we can continue getting positive results.

“Our hope for the future of Zambian football lies in you,” the Minister stated.

He added that the national teams had been performing well in the past year and congratulated FAZ.

FAZ Vice President Rix Mweemba thanked the Minister for continued Government support and stated that the COSAFA Under 17 tournament had reaped several awards.

Zambia not only lifted the trophy, but also won Player of the Match at each game and walked away with the prize for Player of the Tournament and Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Under 17 coach Osward Mutapa also praised the discipline of the young squad and asked that government recognised the effort put in by the technical bench in preparing the team and emerging victorious.

Coach Mutapa said the management of a national team was a matter of honour that required public recognition.

Under 17 team captain Miguel Chaiwa thanked the minister for the counsel and promised that the team would remain disciplined and focused.

Source: Football Association of Zambia