By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Kafue Celtic will be looking to bounce back from their Matchday Two defeat when they host Southern Zone leaders Nampundwe FC in the ZPL Men’s National League on Saturday.
Celtic head into the encounter seeking a response after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Play It Forward, a result that has left them in the relegation zone just two matches into the campaign.
Nampundwe, meanwhile, arrive in confident mood after an emphatic 5-0 victory over Locus FC propelled them to the top of the Southern Zone standings.
Despite the contrasting fortunes of the two sides, Kafue Celtic first assistant coach Taluso Maketo believes his players are ready to respond, pointing to their determination to collect maximum points.
“We are ready for the game against Nampundwe. In preparation, I think all the boys have shown that they are ready for the game. They have that hunger to collect the maximum three points,” Maketo said.
The coach believes the defeat to Play It Forward has provided an important learning opportunity, with the team determined to use the setback as motivation to improve their performances in the coming fixtures.
“In football, there are two types of motivation: positive motivation and negative motivation. That loss was a negative motivation. It really helped us to push the boys more and also helped them to understand that it is not yet over. They need to push more in the next games,” he said.
Maketo expects tough test against Nampundwe
Maketo acknowledges that his side faces a difficult challenge against a Nampundwe team that has made an impressive start to the season.
However, he believes familiarity with their opponents’ style of play will help Kafue prepare for the contest.
“The game against Nampundwe will not be a simple one. It will be tough. We know what to expect from them and understand their style of play, so it will be a good game,” he added.
The assistant coach also revealed that Kafue have retained their squad and familiar line-up but made adjustments to their approach depending on the playing conditions.
He explained that the surface in Livingstone, where they faced Play It Forward, presented a different challenge from their home ground, forcing the team to adapt its style of play.
“We have maintained the squad and the same line-up we have been using. We just changed the approach and style of play because our ground, compared to the one we used in Livingstone, is totally different,” he explained.
Celtic to return to possession-based approach
With home conditions expected to suit their preferred style, Maketo says Kafue will look to take control of possession and impose themselves on the league leaders.
The coach is confident that returning to their familiar approach will give his side a better platform to compete for all three points.
“At our home ground, we will go back to our style of play, where we need to keep the ball more than the opponent. In Livingstone, the ground did not allow us to keep the ball, so we changed our style of play. But at our home ground, expect a positional game,” Maketo said.
With Nampundwe looking to protect their position at the top of the Southern Zone standings and Kafue desperate to recover from their early setback, Saturday’s encounter presents an important test for both sides.
For Celtic, the challenge will be to turn their determination into a positive result, while the visitors will be keen to maintain their strong start and extend their winning run.
