Bruce Mwape

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Bruce Mwape

| image = 2023-07-07 Fussball, Frauen, Länderspiel, Deutschland - Sambia 1DX 6981 by Stepro.jpg

| image_size = 280

| caption = 2023 as the coach of the national women's team

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| birth_date = 26 October 1959

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| manageryears1 = 2018–

| managerclubs1 = Zambia (women's)

| pcupdate = 15 June 2023

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Bruce Mwape (born 26 October 1959){{Cite web |title=Bruce Mwape |url=https://www.tntsports.co.uk/geoblocking.shtml |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=www.tntsports.co.uk}} is the former coach of the Zambia women's national team. He coached the 'copper queens' (as they are fondly known) in Zambia, from 2018 to 2025.

Career

Mwape was appointed as head coach of the Zambia women's national team in May 2018 succeeding Albert Kachinga who returned to club football.{{cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201805230721.html|title=Zambia: Mwape Appointed New Shepolopolo Coach|website=All Africa|date=23 May 2018|access-date=13 July 2022|archive-date=28 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528000952/http://allafrica.com/stories/201805230721.html|url-status=live}}

He would lead the team in the 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.{{cite news |title=Zambia: Mwape names Shepolopolo team for 2018 Womens AFCON |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/11/07/mwape-names-shepolopolo-team-for-2018-womens-afcon/ |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Lusaka Times |date=7 November 2018}} The Copper Queens were not able to advance out from the group stage.{{cite news |title=AWCON Exit Saddens Coach |url=https://www.pressreader.com/zambia/daily-nation-newspaper/20181126/282449940078219 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Daily Nation Newspaper |date=26 November 2018}}

Zambia would qualify for the women's football tournament of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo which was later postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |title=History Beckons as Zambia Face European Champions the Netherlands at Olympics |url=https://dailynationzambia.com/2021/07/history-beckons-as-zambia-face-european-champions-the-netherlands-at-olympics/ |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Daily Nation |date=22 July 2021 |language=en}} The did not manage to progress to the quarterfinals after losing two and drawing one of its three matches in the group stage.{{cite news |title=Olympics football: End of the road for Banda-led Zambia after Brazil defeat {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/olympics-football-end-of-the-road-for-banda-led-zambia-after-brazil-defeat/1qbj8ahmfj3nl122ecziczp394 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Goal.com |date=27 July 2021 |language=en}}

Mwape would coach the team again in the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. This time the Zambians finished third place, their best ever finish in the continental tournament.{{cite news |title=Zambian Women's Football: How She-polopolo Are Riding The Crest Of Success |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/zambian-womens-football-how-she-polopolo-are-riding-the-crest-of-success |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=FIFA |date=17 October 2022}} They also secured a berth in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after they progressed to the semifinals – their first ever qualification.{{cite news |title=AWCON 2022: Zambia's Mwape after sealing World Cup slot – 'It feels like the tournament is over' {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/wafcon-2022-zambia-mwape-after-sealing-world-cup-slot-it-feels-like-the-tournament-is-over/blta6cf537775f2e187 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Goal.com |date=15 July 2022 |language=en}}

Controversies

In July 2023, ahead of the World Cup, allegations of sexual misconduct in 2022 against Mwape surfaced.{{cite news |last1=Aarons |first1=Ed |last2=Molina |first2=Romain |title=Zambia women's football team head coach accused of sexual misconduct |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/08/zambia-womens-football-team-sexual-misconduct-bruce-mwape |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=8 July 2023}} Mwape has denied the accusations.{{cite news |title=Zambia women's football coach Bruce Mwape denies sexual misconduct allegations |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/493554/zambia-women-s-football-coach-bruce-mwape-denies-sexual-misconduct-allegations |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=RNZ |date=11 July 2023 |language=en-nz}}{{Cite web |title=Bruce Mwape: Zambia FA 'surprised' over misconduct claims against women's team head coach |url=https://news.sky.com/story/bruce-mwape-zambia-fa-surprised-over-misconduct-claims-against-womens-team-head-coach-12933437 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

The allegations, reported by The Guardian, accuse the coach of inappropriate behavior towards one of the players before Zambia's Women's World Cup match against Costa Rica. FIFA confirmed that they were investigating the matter following a complaint. However, FAZ stated that they have not received any complaint from players or officials in their World Cup delegation and have no footage supporting the alleged misconduct.{{Cite web |title=Bruce Mwape: Zambia FA 'surprised' over misconduct claims against women's team head coach |url=https://news.sky.com/story/bruce-mwape-zambia-fa-surprised-over-misconduct-claims-against-womens-team-head-coach-12933437 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

In May 2024, Mwape was again accused of sexual assault, this time on a FIFA employee during the World Cup.{{Cite web |title=Football. L'entraîneur de l'équipe féminine de Zambie de nouveau accusé d'agression sexuelle |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/football/equipe-zambie/football-lentraineur-de-lequipe-feminine-de-zambie-de-nouveau-accuse-dagression-sexuelle-d11c01ec-1361-11ef-8a2a-01c2428a5400 |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Ouest-France |date=16 May 2024 |language=fr}}

In July 2024, he was banned from private contact with his players at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, while FIFA continued to investigate claims that he had rubbed his hands over a player's chest at the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand.{{Cite news |last=Aarons |first=Ed |date=2024-07-18 |title=Bruce Mwape banned from private contact with Zambia players at Olympics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/18/bruce-mwape-banned-private-contact-with-zambia-players-olympics |access-date=2024-08-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Anzidei |first=Melanie |title=Zambia faces USWNT at the Olympics hoping to cause one of the great upsets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5657247/2024/07/25/zambia-uswnt-olympics/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |work=The New York Times |date=4 August 2024 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Honours

Zambia

COSAFA Women's Championship: 2022{{Cite web |date=11 September 2022 |title=Zambia claim maiden Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship title |url=https://cosafa.com/en-fr-pr-zambia-claim-maiden-hollywoodbets-cosafa-womens-championship-title/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=COSAFA |language=}}