By Angela Bambala Bwalya
ZESCO United head coach Mwenya Chipepo has described his side’s MTN Super League transitional season encounter against Green Eagles as a cup final, insisting that nothing short of victory will satisfy the hosts when the two sides meet at Trade Fair Grounds on Saturday.
ZESCO welcome Green Eagles to Ndola for their second fixture of the campaign, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 hours, as they seek their first victory after opening the season with a 1-1 draw against Kabwe Warriors.
The visitors, meanwhile, arrive in confident mood following an emphatic 4-1 victory over Mighty Mufulira Wanderers and will be looking to maintain their winning momentum.
Chipepo acknowledges the quality of the opposition but believes collecting maximum points at home is crucial if ZESCO are to make a positive start to the transitional campaign.
“This is like a cup final because Green Eagles is a good side, and for them to beat Mufulira Wanderers away from home, it means that they are fighting for something big,” Chipepo said.
The ZESCO coach stressed that his team must take advantage of home support, with the club determined to make amends for last season’s disappointing performances.
“We’ll be playing at home under our supporters, and our supporters and the management are not looking for a draw or loss. This must be a win. We want something to start from. So playing at home, picking three points will be very, very, very important for the team,” he added.
Chipepo encouraged by response against Kabwe Warriors
Despite failing to secure maximum points in their opening fixture, Chipepo was encouraged by the way his players responded in the second half against Kabwe Warriors.
The coach acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Railway Stadium but praised his squad’s mentality and determination to fight for results.
“Remember we played in Kabwe last week, and we were looking for three points, but it wasn’t easy playing at Railway Ground. You know, Kabwe Warriors is not a small team.
“But I liked the way we came back in the second half. The guys have a good mentality and are always ready to fight for points, for good three points. But unfortunately, we only managed to come with one point, which is not bad,” he said.
Chipepo also admitted that conceding early against Kabwe disrupted his team’s game plan, although he believes the experience has provided valuable lessons ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
“When you concede early, it means whatever you planned is disturbed. So we have learned a lesson and hopefully we don’t repeat the same thing,” he said.
Coach appeals to ZESCO supporters
Saturday’s fixture will be ZESCO United’s first home outing of the transitional campaign, and Chipepo has called on supporters to turn up in numbers as the team seeks to deliver a performance that restores confidence.
The coach acknowledged that the club had fallen short of expectations last season and understands the supporters’ desire to see an improvement in results.
“Remember last season we didn’t do well. We didn’t do well last season, and we have starved our supporters. They need something big.
“So what I can only tell them is that they should come in numbers to support the team, and I’m sure we are not going to disturb them or disappoint them,” Chipepo said.
ZESCO hold historical advantage
The head-to-head record offers some encouragement for the hosts ahead of Saturday’s contest.
In their last 10 meetings, ZESCO United have recorded four victories against Green Eagles’ two, while the remaining four encounters have ended in draws.
However, Green Eagles’ convincing opening-day victory means ZESCO will need to be at their best against a side that has already demonstrated its attacking threat.
For Chipepo, the objective is clear: turn home advantage into three points and give ZESCO the winning start they need to build momentum in the transitional campaign.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 hours at Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola on Saturday, 10 October.
