Red Arrows gaffer Chisi Mbewe is expecting a highly tactical showdown when his side faces off with CAF Confederation Cup envoys ZESCO United.
The Airmen will be looking to extend their lead at the summit of the MTN Super League log table when they square off with Zega Mambo at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in a rescheduled week 5 encounter this afternoon.
Mbewe says his side just has to work hard and get maximum points against ZESCO United despite him expecting a tough and tactical affair.
He says his side have prepared well for this encounter and are ready for the match.
“It’s not an easy game. To play ZESCO, a team competing in the CAF competition, I think it’s going to be a tricky game. It’s going to be a highly tactical game. Otherwise, the most important thing for us, we have prepared, we know what we want out of this game. We just need to ensure that we work extra hard and get maximum points,” he said.
“We travelled so well from Lusaka to Ndola. We appreciate God for the free passage. I think we have settled in so well in Ndola. We had a training session in the afternoon yesterday. I think, maybe under difficult weather conditions because it was raining. But nevertheless, we settled so well. The players looked focused and they looked ready for tomorrow’s (today) game.”
“The team has been focused even from the time that this game has been postponed for so many times. We knew that at one point this game was going to be played and I think the preparation has been going so well. It was even difficult for us to come up with a 20-man squad that has travelled to the Copperbelt because everyone was pushing, everyone wanted to be part and parcel of the team that has come to Ndola,” he added.
The Airmen have been boosted by the return of Ken Mumba, Angel Lubamba and Thomas Zulu who missed the 2-0 win over Mutondo Stars.
Sporting Lusaka winger on loan at Red Arrows Lewis Mwachisemo has returned to training after recovering from a shoulder injury but he is not yet ready to be part of the match day squad.
“ Oh, yes, I think… three adjustments. I think Thomas Zulu has come in, so has Angel Lubamba who missed the Mutondo game, and again also Ken Mumba comes in for this assignment. I would say we have depth in the team, but again we have got players who are on the injury list. I think quite a number of players. Moyela has been out with a knee injury. Kombe has been out, Dickson. We are happy that Lewis (Mwachisemo) is back in training after a shoulder injury. Then again we have got John Silavwe who also has got a knee injury. Otherwise the team has got the depth and the players that are selected that are equal to the task,” he said.
The Airmen are prepared for everything and even trained while it rained as they project that it could rain during the match against ZESCO United.
“That’s the reason why we even trained in the rain yesterday, just to ensure that we prepared in all aspects of the game. We wanted the players to psych the players or to prepare the psychological part of the players when it rains, how we are going to manage the game. Otherwise, I think it won’t affect our play because this is the season that we are in. We expect that even when we resume the second round of the season, we expect to play in such conditions,” he said.
“Well, like always, we appreciate their love. We appreciate their support that they are giving to the team. We are seeing how the Red Arrows fan base is growing each and every week. So again, we can only request from them to come and turn up in numbers. The local supporters, even those who are travelling from Lusaka to Ndola, may they come in numbers so that again, their voice behind the players, behind the team is very, very important so that we ensure that we fight and we work together as a team and ensure we attain and achieve our goals together as one team.”
The Airmen are looking to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games having not yet tasted defeat this season. They have one nine games and drawn 4 so far this season.
ZESCO United on the other hand are winless in their last 8 games in all Competitions.
