MEDALS continued to swell for Team Zambia at the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone Six Youth Games following the women's soccer team's qualification to the semi-finals yesterday with the athletes in the track-and-field events bagging 11 medals, bringing the total number the country has won so far to 32.

Zambia had by press time yesterday won nine gold, six silver and 16 bronze medals with either a gold or silver to come from the women's soccer team.

Joseph Sinkala won a silver medal in the men's long jump after recording a 7.07m jump behind winner Mpho Maphutha of South Africa, who jumped 7.33m as Cephas Nyimbili also won silver in the 800m men's final.

Nyimbili timed 1:53.23 behind Sylvester Madiba of South Africa, with Emile Pieterse, also of South Africa, finishing third after clocking 1:53.47.

Runner Penzya Munkombwe claimed bronze in the 800m men T13 final clocking 2:15.17 which was won by Benjamin Kamuchanga of Namibia who timed 2:12.71 while Ackley Nkweedenda won a bronze in the men's 5000m final with a time of 14:28.36.

Orient Mwanza finished third in the women's 800m final with a time 2:14.57 behind winner Thato Makhafola and runner-up Sunel Jacobs, who finished on 2:11.35 and 2:11.81, respectively.

Rebecca Mwanza finished third in the 800m T13 women's final timing 3:04.21.

Martha Ngoma and Martha Mukulama qualified for the discus final while the relay team of Abygirl Sepiso, Yvonne Nalishuwa, Bridget Maseka and Chauness Choosa were expected to participate in the women's 4x100m finals.

The group of Jonathan Mukulama, Joseph Sinkala, David Maluti and Titus Kafunda were expected to race in the men's 4x100m relay.

Zambia 64 Namibia 41

In basketball, YVONNE SAKALA reports that the Zambia netball team yesterday redeemed some pride in their quest for a medal after beating the western neighbours Namibia in a lopsided match played at the National Sports Development Centre sports hall.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of South Africa and Mozambique, Zambia made sure they kept a tab on the leaders Mozambique by hammering Namibia in what was their second meeting in this competition.

The Zambian team had devastated their Namibian counterparts for the second time after the first encounter saw Zambian walk away the 53-44 victors.

In yesterday's game, Zambia took an early lead and went to break leading 33-20 but saw Namibia show resilience in the third quarter with scores at 43-29 but then buckled in the closing quarter to let Zambia run away with the game, winning 64-41.

Zambia meets South Africa for the second time tomorrow.