The Chingola Municipal Council has given high-cost plots to Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape, his assistant Charity Nthala and goalkeeper Hazel Nali as a token of appreciation for the trio’s achievements at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The ‘Chingola products’ were part of the Copper Queens technical bench that became the first country from Africa to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and finished third at the WAFCON beating Nigeria 1-0 in the bronze medal match.
Chingola Mayor Johnson Kang’ombe said the trio had put Chingola on the map and deserved to be appreciated. Prior to the pronouncement, Mwape, Nthala and Nali were given a thunderous welcome with a road show attracting hundreds of Chingola residents.
“We want to honor our people with a token of appreciation which will go a long way. We are going to give the piece of land (each) so we will see to it that they are appreciated,” Kang’ombe said.
“They have done us proud; they have done mother Zambia proud by being part of the team that qualified for the World Cup for the first time and for coming number three at the WAFCON.”
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape thanked the council for the gesture.
“The support that your office rendered to us throughout the tournament was overwhelming and helped us achieve the results that we needed. We count ourselves lucky to be among those identified and selected to be the beneficiaries,” Mwape said.
“Our commitment to you is that we shall use the land to greater use, and in return contribute to the council’s revenue streams.”
In a related development, Nali has donated 24 pairs of boots to her girlhood club Nchanga Queens whom she encouraged to continue on their path to develop players.
FAZ
