Zesco players ‘charged’

EIGHT TIME Super League champions, Zesco United are expected to be highly charged at the season opening match, especially having missed out on qualification for Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup and surrendering the 2019/2020 league title to Nkana.
The Ndola based side have been drawn against the country’s envoy in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup, Napsa Stars in their Week 1 fixture to be played in Lusaka on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by Zesco United media officer Desmond Katongo, the former champions will be looking to undo last year’s painful 2-1 away defeat to Napsa in a week 22 fixture played in Lusaka.
Newly appointed Zesco United coach, Numba Mumamba is aware of the threat that The Pensioners pose espe-cially with their recent qualification for CAF Confederation Cup and the club’s recent acquisitions during the transfer window.
“Napsa Stars have showed that they are a good side in the last two seasons. This can be seen through their qualification for CAF competitions meaning that they will be one of Mother Zambia’s representative at the high-est level of the African game.
As we go to Napsa we need to be aware that this is a different team from what we were used to in the past. They are a now another powerhouse in the country.”
Mumamba is however unperturbed by the threat that Napsa Stars could potentially cause when the two sides meet.
“We have enough ammunition in this team that can help get the desired results. What we need is to prepare the team and psych them properly for us to comeback with a positive result.”
When reminded of last year’s 2-1 defeat Mumamba responded: “This is a time to start afresh and not look at what happened in the past. You can lose a game but we expect ourselves to come back stronger. We are going there as a wounded team.”
This weekend, Mumamba leads Zesco United in his first test match after being appointed head coach of the club knowing too well that a positive result will calm a lot of nerves especially after the team’s failure to defend the league title and missing out CAF.
The gaffer has had a good preseason with the old and newly acquired players. Mumamba will further be en-couraged by the performances of some of his star players at National team level.
Both Bruce Musakanya and Kelvin Kampamba have been a marvel to watch in national colours. Despite not spending enough time with them since his appointment, Mumamba is not worried about their output and impact in the team.
“I don’t think it will have any effect on us. These are senior players who have matured in the game and it is easy for them to adjust to what we want. We won’t have any problems because we know the type of players they are,” he said.
– ZESCOUNITEDFC.CO.ZM