Thu, 06 Apr 2017 10:07:37 +0000
By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA
ZESCO United has the African experience so they will not be a push over in Sunday’s encounter, says Enugu Rangers coach Imama Amapakabo.
The Nigerian top flight side Enugu Rangers will on Sunday host Zesco in a CAF Confederation League pre-group stage first leg match at Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu City.
Amapakabo in an interview from Nigeria yesterday said his team was focused on winning the first leg at home.
He said a win will be a morale booster for his lads ahead of the return leg a week later in Ndola.
He said he had enough information on Zesco and was aware of the tough challenge that awaited them. “Zesco are not a push over. This is a side that has African experience so they will not be an easy target. We will go into the game with the mentality to win. Whatever the result in the first leg, it will count when we go to Ndola,” he said.
Amapakabo said Zesco was definitely in high spirit having won the Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu Charity Shield title last Sunday.
“They were CAF Champions League semifinalists last year and just won the Charity Shield. The morale in the Zesco camp is high. We will stop at nothing but to win, ” he said.
Meanwhile, Zesco yesterday left for Nigeria aboard Ethiopian Airline. Zesco coach Zlatko Krmpotic predicted a tough game against Enugu.
Krmpotic said Enugu had a good team and Zesco needed to be conscious to ensure they win on Sunday.
“Enugu is not a small team. We need to fight harder to ensure we win,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that dependable striker Idriss Mbombo who accumulated two yellow cards and injured Jackson Mwanza will not be part of the squad playing this weekend.
Krmpotic however said he had good players to fill up the gap.
Zesco has goalkeepers in Jacob Banda and Lameck Nyangu.
Defenders: Ben Adama Banh, David Owino Odhiambo, Dauti Musekwa, Bernard Mapili, Marcel Kalonde, Fackson Kapumbu, and Bornwell Silengo.
Midfielders: Anthony Akumu Agay, Mwape Mwelwa, John Ching’andu, Kondwani Mtonga and Bwalya Chiti.
Strikers: Jesse Jackson Were, Lazarous Kambole, Dave Daka, Maybin Kalengo, and Patrick Kangolo.
