By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Mufulira Wanderers coach Lameck Banda says the club is fully motivated by the possibility of securing CAF Confederation Cup football as they prepare for Saturday’s ABSA Cup semi-final against Power Dynamos.
Wanderers face Super League leaders Power at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in a high-stakes last-four clash, knowing victory would move them within one game of continental qualification.
With Power Dynamos closing in on the league title, Banda believes the cup offers Wanderers their clearest path to Africa.
“Tomorrow’s game is one we’ve been waiting for — the game we worked to play,” Banda said.
“We are not under pressure. We know Power Dynamos are in form at the moment, but I think we can give them something as well.
“There is no second place. We’ve been told that the pathway to the CAF Confederation Cup is the ABSA Cup. This is motivation enough for us to pursue the objective. It’s a motivation on its own.”
Banda revealed the club’s executive committee and board have thrown their full support behind the campaign, with continental qualification seen as a major target.
“The executive and the board are excited. They really want us to qualify for CAF,” he said.
“They have been pushing us from behind, pushing to make sure we work extra hard. If we achieve that, it’s something that will excite them even more.”
Power Dynamos go into the tie in strong form, unbeaten in their last 13 matches across all competitions, and recently beat Wanderers 1-0 in the league.
But Banda insists that result has done little to shake his side’s confidence.
“They beat us at home by a goal to nil. I think they laboured for it,” he said.
“Tomorrow it will show again. The loss we suffered at home was just unfortunate. They know what really happened that day.
“Like I said, they laboured for it, and tomorrow there will be even more labour.”
Wanderers are now potentially just 120 minutes away from a return to continental football, but Banda says the immediate focus remains firmly on the semi-final.
“Before that we have a semi-final tomorrow,” he said.
“From day one we’ve been preaching to the team that we need to get something this season. We are on track.
“Tomorrow we will put in our energy so that we can come out victorious. It’s not easy, but I’m sure there is something we can do.”
Club captain Patson Kwataine echoed that belief, saying the players are determined to end the club’s long wait for major silverware.
“It’s been long since the team won a major trophy,” Kwataine said.
“We keep believing, everyone in camp. This is the way we stop the record of being without a trophy for a long time.
“We will show character. We have the belief to say we will carry the day and proceed to the finals.”
Wanderers reached the semi-finals after beating Forest Rangers 2-0 in the round of 16 before edging FC MUZA 5-4 on penalties in the quarter-finals after a draw in regulation time.
Power Dynamos defeated Nampundwe and Nchanga Rangers 2-0 in the round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively.
History, however, favours Abayellow, who have won five of the last eight meetings between the two sides, with Wanderers managing just one victory and the other two matches ending in draws.
