A need victory for the pensioners as they are slowly pushing high up the table, a second-half goal from Emmanuel Mayuka was enough to settle the Lusaka derby and register the fourth victory for Napsa stars this season.
Head coach Muhamed Fathi was left feeling very happy with the response from his players summed up with a clean sheet.
“It was a very good game, We played very well against a well-organized team and there is number three on the log with a stable performance so it was very good for us to maintain what we started from the Kitwe united game, clean sheet and very good result big efforts from the players I appreciate their efforts and maintaining the performance is what we need now, We need to focus on the next game which is a continental game,” Fathi told the ZamFoot Crew at Woodlands Stadium.
“Yes we had a plan to play with two top men, two young stars to make them tire at the beginning of course, when they are tired we put in Emmanuel Mayuka as super sub, and it’s not the first time that we play Emmanuel mayuka from the bench and bring the game to our side, he did it in Mozambique and also Gor Mahia that penalty and even today it’s good for us, good for Emma am very happy for him and am very happy for the team,” he added.
Fathi has immediately switched his focus to continental football and is already planning on how to get a positive result in Morocco
“This win is motivating for the players, keep winning it’s a habit and its good for us to maintain the same momentum of winning the games, we work very hard as a technical bench with my assistant last night we analyzed them we spent around three hours analyzing the Moroccan outfit and we understand what is the strengths and what is the weakness plus also I understand the football in north Africa very well so I think this will help us come with a positive result from there,” he said.
The Pensioners were drawn in Group B against North African opposition in Algerian side JS Kabylie and holders RS Berkane of Morocco. Cameroon side Coton Sport complete the group B lineup.
Congrats to Napsa Stars on an important super league victory! It does my heart good to see Mayuka’s inspiring comeback this season. Good luck to him and the rest of the boys as they return to continental competition!
On a separate note, can someone explain what’s happening with Fashion Sakala and his Oostende side in Belgium? There is no reported injury, yet he has not been named in the squad for two straight games. I have read about the contract issues and that Oostende doesn’t want him to leave and join a UK side such as Rangers. To me, that’s all the more reason they should be giving him playing time. Especially since they are climbing the table and fighting for a spot in the hunt for Champions/Europa league for next year! Please, Zamfoot friends, explain to me what is going on? We need Fashion fit for the March Chipolopolo matches.