The Lusaka Media Queens faced off against the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) ladies team over the weekend, marking their first match after an almost nine-month hiatus. The Media Queens, a team of Lusaka-based journalists from both private and public media, have been preparing for an international outing to Namibia, following an invitation from their Namibian counterparts for a friendly soccer match.
As part of their sports day event on Saturday afternoon, the BoZ ladies extended an invitation to the media team. The game kicked off with excitement, but the journalists were caught off guard when they conceded a goal within the first 20 seconds. This rapid goal made the BoZ team one of the first squads to score so early in a women’s football match.
The Media Queens, coached by Francis Chipalo, were visibly surprised and even complained that they had not heard the whistle indicating the start of the match. Despite the early setback, the BoZ team, with players from Lusaka and Ndola, dominated play, adding three more goals in the first half. Coach Chipalo could be seen shouting instructions to his team from the sidelines.
In the second half, the Media Queens made adjustments and improved their performance, but despite their best efforts, they were unable to overcome the deficit, losing 7-0.
Though disappointed by the loss, the BoZ team’s sports coordinator, Engineer Manzi, praised the Media Queens as one of the best opponents they have faced. He emphasized that the match aimed to promote healthy lifestyles among both the bankers and the media.
After the game, both teams enjoyed networking and socializing, reinforcing their friendship. Media Queens’ Technical Director Banji Kobe thanked the BoZ ladies for the invitation and highlighted that this match was the start of weekly weekend games for the media team.
Media Team Communications Unit.
