Lusaka, Zambia, October 23: Zambia is treading cautiously ahead of return leg of Rwanda 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Mozambique in Maputo Sunday despite having registered 3-0 goal advantages at home in the first leg encounter.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya says the Chipolopolo(Copper Bullets) should not be taken up by the first leg encounter victory but instead treat Sunday clash with utmost seriousness as the Mambas have capability to turn the tables.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya says the Chipolopolo(Copper Bullets) should not be taken up by the first leg encounter victory but instead treat Sunday clash with utmost seriousness as the Mambas have capability to turn the tables.
He explains that this message has already been relayed to players and the team technical staff that they are not home and dry with the three-goal lead registered in the first leg encounter in Lusaka but instead engage into an extra gear to earn the qualification.
“We have told the technical bench and the players to guard against complacency. When we started the qualifiers, our goal was to qualify for the tournament and that is our target.
“If we scored three goals here [Zambia} they can also score three goals in Maputo. This is why we have to take the game seriously and beat them,” he explains.
He adds that the Zambian side has only one foot in the finals of the tournament and cannot afford to lose this crucial game which has 90 minutes to be played before the team players as well as, coaching staff can be assured of qualification.
“We are just one foot in the finals of the tournament but the technical bench and players must remember that there is another 90 minutes to be played in Maputo on Sunday. This is a very important game,” he adds.
Zambia team coach, George Lwandamina also shares Bwalya sentiments by making crystal clear to his charges not to underrate the Mambas whom he says showed some prowess and potential when the two sides last clashed.
“Mozambique can qualify. This is football anything is possible. They will not just be looking at us to beat them. Even in the last game, we won the match in the last 20 minutes. The 70 minutes was tough, so it’s going to be tougher this time,” Lwandamina observes.
He adds the Sunday encounter will be a different ball game as such the first leg encounter result will have to be treated as a thing of the past and he is psyching up the players to take the game seriously.
“Bury the victory; that is history. We can’t bank on the game that we have already played; every game is different .We are preparing the players so that they don’t become complacent,” he adds. The Mozambique team captain, Momed Hagi is reportedly to have declared that the Zambia is a beatable side as such his team will put every effort in the game to get a positive result when playing on the home ground in Maputo.
“We have told the technical bench and the players to guard against complacency. When we started the qualifiers, our goal was to qualify for the tournament and that is our target.
“If we scored three goals here [Zambia} they can also score three goals in Maputo. This is why we have to take the game seriously and beat them,” he explains.
He adds that the Zambian side has only one foot in the finals of the tournament and cannot afford to lose this crucial game which has 90 minutes to be played before the team players as well as, coaching staff can be assured of qualification.
“We are just one foot in the finals of the tournament but the technical bench and players must remember that there is another 90 minutes to be played in Maputo on Sunday. This is a very important game,” he adds.
Zambia team coach, George Lwandamina also shares Bwalya sentiments by making crystal clear to his charges not to underrate the Mambas whom he says showed some prowess and potential when the two sides last clashed.
“Mozambique can qualify. This is football anything is possible. They will not just be looking at us to beat them. Even in the last game, we won the match in the last 20 minutes. The 70 minutes was tough, so it’s going to be tougher this time,” Lwandamina observes.
He adds the Sunday encounter will be a different ball game as such the first leg encounter result will have to be treated as a thing of the past and he is psyching up the players to take the game seriously.
“Bury the victory; that is history. We can’t bank on the game that we have already played; every game is different .We are preparing the players so that they don’t become complacent,” he adds. The Mozambique team captain, Momed Hagi is reportedly to have declared that the Zambia is a beatable side as such his team will put every effort in the game to get a positive result when playing on the home ground in Maputo.
By: Joel Chirwa
RSS Feed