Lusaka, Zambia, March 9: Zambia torch-bearers in the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Confederation Cup, Power Dynamos have found themselves in tight position following weekend lacklustre performance against local rivals Zesco United.
Dynamos were slugging it out with Zesco United in the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield in which they came out with a bloody nose- thumped 3-1.
Dynamos has real reasons to get headaches following this heavy defeat, because it comes a week ahead of the first round CAF Confederation Cup, first leg fixture against FC Mounana of Gabon to be played in Libreville this coming weekend.
Dynamos were slugging it out with Zesco United in the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield in which they came out with a bloody nose- thumped 3-1.
Dynamos has real reasons to get headaches following this heavy defeat, because it comes a week ahead of the first round CAF Confederation Cup, first leg fixture against FC Mounana of Gabon to be played in Libreville this coming weekend.
Dynamos Assistant Coach, Anderson Phiri conceded that his side misfiring frontline and squeaky rearguard especially on its failure to deal with set pieces as witnessed during the weekend encounter are real hiccups to get worried with.
He observed that during the weekend encounter against Zesco his side had bright start in the first 20 minutes but it eventually unravelled as time elapsed.
He especially bemoaned plenty of goal scoring opportunities his side fluffed which were crowned with the three silly goals his side easily conceded during the match.
“If we had utilised those chances in the first half, we would have been okay but look at the goals that they scored against us two set pieces,corners,a consolation then an own goal. It is worrying really,” Phiri lamented in post match interview.
His side nightmares have been further worsened by injury worries of two key players, defender Christopher Munthali and striker Jimmy Ndhlovu.
Munthali suffered a knock while training in preparation of the Zesco encounter, but is at least on the road to recovery while his colleague, Ndhlovu sidelined by a calf injury has been ruled out for Libreville trip.
“Munthali suffered a knock during training and he can still make it to Gabon but Ndhlovu is a major doubt because he may not recover in time for this weekend’s game,” observed Phiri.
Nonetheless, he said people should not read too much in the way his side performed against Zesco, saying there is still time for his side to pick up pieces to recover ahead of the journey to the West African nation this Thursday.
“This defeat can only affect players now but we still have a few more days to recover and we will go into Gabon well motivated. We have to go back to the drawing board and work on those set piece mistakes,” he declared.
He observed that during the weekend encounter against Zesco his side had bright start in the first 20 minutes but it eventually unravelled as time elapsed.
He especially bemoaned plenty of goal scoring opportunities his side fluffed which were crowned with the three silly goals his side easily conceded during the match.
“If we had utilised those chances in the first half, we would have been okay but look at the goals that they scored against us two set pieces,corners,a consolation then an own goal. It is worrying really,” Phiri lamented in post match interview.
His side nightmares have been further worsened by injury worries of two key players, defender Christopher Munthali and striker Jimmy Ndhlovu.
Munthali suffered a knock while training in preparation of the Zesco encounter, but is at least on the road to recovery while his colleague, Ndhlovu sidelined by a calf injury has been ruled out for Libreville trip.
“Munthali suffered a knock during training and he can still make it to Gabon but Ndhlovu is a major doubt because he may not recover in time for this weekend’s game,” observed Phiri.
Nonetheless, he said people should not read too much in the way his side performed against Zesco, saying there is still time for his side to pick up pieces to recover ahead of the journey to the West African nation this Thursday.
“This defeat can only affect players now but we still have a few more days to recover and we will go into Gabon well motivated. We have to go back to the drawing board and work on those set piece mistakes,” he declared.
By: Joel Chirwa
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