Copper Queens defender Margaret Belemu has joined Turkish Women’s Super League Hakkarigucu Sports Club on a short-term deal.
Belemu will team up with countrymate and midfielder Misozi Zulu who has been at the eastern Turkey side since October 2021.
The duo played a crucial part in Zambia’s success at the 2022 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship where the Copper Queens bagged a historic gold.
Zulu scored the winner in the 2-1 semifinal win over Tanzania while Belemu provided a decisive assist chipped for skipper Barbara Banda’s header in the 1-0 victory over South Africa in the final match played at Isaac Wolfson stadium in Gqeberha.
Belemu’s arrival in Turkey brings the number of Copper Queens players based in that country to three.
In February 2022, Copper Queens goalkeeper Hazel Nali joined Fatih Vatan Spor Kulubu on a short-term deal which was later upgraded to permanent at the end of the 2021/22 season.
More Copper Queens players have broken foreign ground in the last few years. Rachael Kundananji, Grace Chanda, Rachael Nachula and Hellen Mubanga ply their trade in Spain while Prisca Chilufya (Kazakhstan) and Skipper Barbara Banda features for Shanghai Shengli in China.