FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Andrew Kamanga has revealed that the premature announcement of Nora Hauptle as the new Copper Queens coach on social media nearly derailed the deal. Kamanga explained that it took substantial effort to convince the Swiss coach to accept the role in Zambia.Reports surfaced, especially from Ghanaian outlets, claiming that Hauptle had already been appointed as the new coach of the Copper Queens, causing an early stir. Kamanga emphasised that despite the media frenzy, the deal was almost “crashed” because of social media leaks. He explained, “It took a while to get her to sign up for the Copper Queens with the deal almost crashed in its infancy by the perils of social media.”Hauptle’s appointment comes after her move from Ghana, where she was previously linked with the national team. Her decision to ditch Ghana in favour of Zambia was influenced by various factors, including her observations during a match last year, where Zambia defeated Ghana. In a post-match interview, Hauptle said, “Zambia lacked tactical formation but they were a good side with talented players,” signalling her interest in the Copper Queens’ position. Kamanga admitted that this comment made it clear that Hauptle was keen on taking over the Zambian women’s team.In his “President’s Corner” write up, Kamanga also reflected on the broader state of football in Zambia. He noted, “We are already feeling your warmth in the brand new year as we get on with the football business,” noting that the national team was preparing for various upcoming competitions, including the African Nations Championship (CHAN). He also said FAZ is working on improving the local league, as it is vital for Zambia to have top-quality teams competing in CAF competitions.He also paid tribute to the outgoing Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape, stating that his contributions over the years were invaluable. “We cannot thank Mwape enough for the job he has done with the Copper Queens over the years since his appointment in 2018. He has no doubt provided a strong base for the incoming technical bench to build on,” Kamanga said.Kamanga announced that Mwape would be sent to Morocco for a CAF Pro Licence, continuing to build his coaching capacity. He noted that the long-term goal is to have local coaches managing all national teams, but this would require significant investment in world-class training.As for Hauptle, Kamanga confirmed that clear targets have been set for her, starting with the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. “We have given Hauptle clear targets starting with the forthcoming Women Africa Cup of Nations that is very high on our radar. We can only wish her the best in her assignment and assure her of maximum support,” he said.
