By Angela Bambala Bwalya
NAPSA Stars head coach Tenant Chilumba has challenged his side to turn their fortunes around when they host defending champions Power Dynamos in a Week Seven MTN Super League encounter at Reiz Arena on Thursday.
The Pensioners are still searching for their first victory of the 2026 Transitional Season after recording four draws and one defeat in their opening five matches.
Their latest outing ended in a 2-2 draw against Kansanshi Dynamos, leaving them eighth in the standings with four points, while Power Dynamos sit fifth with seven points from five matches.
Chilumba admits his side’s failure to register a win is a concern but insists there is no panic within the camp, with maximum points against Power capable of providing a much-needed boost.
“Coming from almost five games without a win is worrying, but we are not panicking. What we want is just a win. I think it will be a big statement for us,” Chilumba said.
The NAPSA coach believes his team has shown encouraging signs on the road but acknowledges the need to improve their home form after collecting just one point from their two previous matches at Reiz Arena.
He says preparations have focused on addressing the team’s shortcomings, particularly their struggles to convert scoring opportunities.
“Our target is to get maximum points. If we look at the last few games we have played at home, we have one loss and one draw. We have gone back to the drawing board and worked on a few things, especially chances and scoring at home,” he added.
Chilumba also confirmed that there would be no major changes to the squad that faced Kansanshi Dynamos, although one youngster from the youth team has been promoted to provide additional options in midfield.
However, NAPSA face a difficult assignment against a Power Dynamos side that has enjoyed the upper hand in recent meetings between the two teams.
The Kitwe giants have won seven and drawn three of their last 10 encounters with the Pensioners, who are yet to record a victory in that sequence.
Power head into Thursday’s fixture following a goalless draw against arch-rivals Nkana FC and will also be looking to return to winning ways after recording two victories, two defeats and one draw in their opening five matches.
Despite the contrasting recent records between the sides, Chilumba remains confident that his players can deliver, urging supporters to continue backing the team.
“To the fans, they shouldn’t worry much. We have worked on our mistakes and, looking at the team and the way we trained today, everyone is focused on getting a win,” he said.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 hours at Reiz Arena in Lusaka, with NAPSA hoping to end their winless start and claim a significant result against the defending champions.
