Copper queens take lessons from Brazil loss-coach

Copper Queens coach Charles Haalubono says Zambia’s heavy 6-1 defeat to Brazil in this morning’s FIFA Series tournament match was a difficult but valuable learning experience for his side. Speaking in a post-match interview, Haalubono said the team has struggled to fully adapt due to limited preparation time and travel constraints, noting that the squad arrived in Brazil shortly before the competition began. He explained that the technical bench had to prioritise player recovery over acclimatisation, leaving little room for the team to adjust to the environment or experience the host country.

Haalubono, however, stressed that the exposure gained from playing against top-ranked opposition such as Brazil and Korea was crucial for the development of the team. And Soccer Analyst, Joshua Machona attributed Copper Queens poor results to poor team structure and over-reliance on key players such as Barbara Banda. In an exclusive interview with ZANIS, Machona said the team’s performance had consistently been affected by a lack of a clear playing system, a problem he noted has persisted across different coaching regimes.

He explained that the team relies heavily on striker Barbra Banda, making it difficult for Zambia to perform effectively in her absence or when she is tightly marked. He said analysis of recent matches, including the loss to Brazil, showed weaknesses in tactical decisions, particularly in player positioning and selection. Machona urged the technical bench to improve team coordination and ensure players are deployed in their natural positions against South Korea.