Before the start of the 2020/21 FAZ super league campaign, Green Buffaloes had set three targets for themselves, They set their sights on ABSA cup and CAF club competition qualification with the league title being the main target.
As of week 18 which marks the start of a second round of the Zambian top league tier, Green Buffaloes have found themselves on the red alert as they are separated by goal difference from four others whom they have equal points with. They occupy the 13th position with 18 points which are the same points the 17th placed Young Green Eagles have. They have only won three games, drawn nine, and lost six times. They have scored sixteen goals and have allowed seventeen giving them a negative one-goal difference.
They have changed the technical bench as they have let go of Bilton ‘Kuba’ Musonda and have brought in Justin Chinama who has done little to change the scope of the results and steady the sinking ship but he is on course to get the best out of his side and charges, it is not an immediate thing. Things have become difficult for the army outfit but there is much hope that things will get back to normal in the soonest time.
All the targets they had before the start of the league have been thrown out the window and they have now set a different target which is to survive relegation Or at least finish in a respectable position.
The ZamFoot Crew caught with one of the longest-serving buffaloes players at the training base in Lusaka, a player who should and will play a big role in the new set target, Fred Joe Silwamba.
The question everyone is asking is how have Green Buffaloes found themselves in such a daunting situation looking at the experience the squad possesses, with the other question being whether the club is vying for a top-four finish or playing for survival. Fred Joe Silwamba made it clear that the club has shifted the attention to surviving relegation.
“As of now, we are not in a good position to guarantee us top-four finish so we just want to get out of this relegation zone and we are working extra hard to change things. Yes we are not performing as expected but it’s the name of the game and it’s just part of football to go through this bad patch but we will pick up”, Fred Silwamba told the ZamFoot Crew
The shot-stopper believes the team should take responsibility as a whole for the had patch and that there is no need to point fingers at others.
“We have to work on scoring and defending which will require all departments to up their game and to work the best of everyone, we can’t blame anyone for our current form.”
This afternoon they have a difficult test as they welcome the stubborn Indeni Football club of Ndola in Lusaka at Nkololoma stadium. Indeni is in 15th position same points as the host Green Buffaloes but they have allowed three more goals than Green Buffaloes.
Mwenya Chipepo who changed and made prison leopards a top-four team before he ditched them will be in charge of the Oilo Men for his second game and will be hoping for a better outcome today having lost 3-1 to Sensational Zanaco in the first game.
Speaking ahead of the Saturday match, Fred Silwamba said the team is ready for the game and that nothing but maximum points will be entertained by the army side.
we have to win the game tomorrow at all costs, am confident we will do it looking at what we have done during training sessions
The last time the two teams met during the first round of the current campaign, it ended in a barren draw.
