Silver Strikers Ladies coach Patricio Kulemeka says his technical panel is confident the team will progress to the final of the CAF Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers, despite a stern test awaiting them in the semi-finals.
The Central Bankers face last season’s surprise package, ZESCO Ndola Girls, this afternoon, with a place in the final — and a coveted spot in the CAF Champions League group stages — on the line.
Kulemeka says his players are fully prepared for the challenge and are eager to continue the momentum from an impressive group-stage campaign. Silver Strikers Ladies eased past Costa do Sol and Nsingizini Hotspurs Ladies, with their only defeat coming against two-time champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
“From the games we played in the group stages, we have seen confidence going up, and we are very confident as a technical panel that we are ready. Our plan going forward from this stage is that we finish in the top two of the tournament. We know we can do it, and we will see how it unfolds,” Kulemeka said.
The coach believes the pressure lies with their opponents rather than his own side.
“We are in the comfort zone — we are playing against our neighbours, who are not new to this tournament. They should be the ones under pressure, not us. However, come what may, we won’t think of it that way but rather get focused on the game,” he added.
ZESCO Ndola Girls FC have been in outstanding form throughout the tournament, sweeping all three of their Group A matches — against hosts Gaborone Ladies, Lesotho Defence Force Ladies, and Herentals Ladies — without dropping a point.
The Ndola-based side made their tournament debut last year, and that first outing proved just as memorable. ZESCO opened with a commanding 3-0 win over Namibia’s Beauties FC before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to reigning powerhouses Mamelodi Sundowns. They bounced back with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Malawi’s Ntopwa FC to advance to the semi-finals as the best runners-up.
That set up a rematch with Sundowns, and the Zambian champions delivered one of the competition’s biggest shocks yet — beating the South African giants 2-1 to reach the final. The result remains Sundowns’ only defeat in ordinary time in the history of the COSAFA qualifiers.
ZESCO came agonisingly close to lifting the trophy against Gaborone United. An own goal from Jackline Chomba gave the Botswana side the lead just before halftime, but Fridah Kabwe rescued her side with a dramatic late header — after a long-range effort had crashed against the crossbar moments earlier — to force extra time.
With the score locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, the final went to penalties, where Gaborone United held their nerve to win 4-3, denying ZESCO a place at the continental finals by the finest of margins.
