|By Angela Bambala Bwalya|
Kansanshi Dynamos assistant coach Dennis Makinka has described Saturday’s MTN Super League finale against Nkana FC as a “tough, tactical and interesting” encounter, with both sides eager to finish the campaign strongly.
Speaking ahead of the Week 34 clash, Makinka acknowledged the threat posed by the Kitwe giants but insisted Kansanshi are determined to collect maximum points and lay down a marker for next season.
“It’s going to be a tough match, a very tactical game with a lot of flashes,” Makinka said.
“Nkana love to play football, they can pass around and so do we, so it’s going to be a very good game for people to watch.”
Makinka highlighted Nkana’s physicality and speed in transition as key areas his side has prepared for, pointing to the attacking threat carried by Charles Zulu, Lewa, Jacob Ngulube and Nduna Zulu.
“We expect a very fast and physical game,” he said. “Nkana are a team full of running and they transition so quickly.
“We have prepared very well because we know how they can transition and how quick they are.”
Beyond the battle for points, Makinka said the fixture also represents an opportunity to reward Kansanshi supporters, who remained loyal during a difficult spell in the middle of the season.
“Our supporters have been with us from day one. They stood by us through thick and thin,” he said.
“We went through a rough patch where we struggled to pick up points, but they were always there for us, even when we travelled to places like Choma. We want to give them something to smile about and something to look forward to next season.”
Makinka revealed that survival alone was never the club’s ultimate objective this season, with the technical bench setting internal performance targets from the outset.
“It’s not just about avoiding relegation,” he explained. “We had a points target when the season started and we are still looking to reach that. We are also playing for records, not just saying we survived.”
The Mabanga Boys head into the final round in 11th place on 42 points following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nkwazi FC.
Nkana, meanwhile, sit 13th on 38 points after suffering a 2-1 loss to FC MUZA.
Historically, Nkana have enjoyed the better record in this fixture, winning three meetings compared to Kansanshi’s one, while five encounters have ended in draws.
