By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Nkana FC assistant coach Donashano Malama says his side is ready to return to winning ways when they host Kansanshi Dynamos in a Week Seven MTN Super League Stream A encounter at Nkana Stadium on Wednesday.
The 13-time Zambian champions welcome the Solwezi-based outfit in a 15:00 kick-off, hoping to build on their recent performances and maintain their impressive home record.
Nkana head into the encounter following a goalless draw against defending champions Power Dynamos in the Kitwe derby, having suffered a 2-0 defeat to Konkola Blades in their previous outing.
Malama says preparations have gone according to plan, with the technical bench placing particular emphasis on player recovery, freshness and addressing areas that require improvement following the derby.
“The preparations have gone well so far. We prioritised the recovery and freshness of the players, and we also took some time to analyse, reflect and identify areas that needed improvement. I can confidently say that we are ready for today’s game,” he said.
Nkana will be looking to maintain their perfect home record, having registered victories over Makeni Stars and Nchanga Rangers in their previous two home assignments.
Malama believes those results, coupled with the performance against Power Dynamos, have provided additional motivation for the players ahead of their third home fixture of the campaign.
The assistant coach has also underlined the importance of collecting maximum points, particularly with the club’s rescheduled fixture against NAPSA Stars coming up on Sunday.
“Maximum points are very, very important. Looking at how we have prepared and the continuous improvement of the players, it is vital for confidence as well,” he added.
However, Nkana could have a concern over the availability of captain David, who is nursing an injury. Malama confirmed that the defender’s condition would be assessed during the team’s final training session before a decision is made on his availability.
Meanwhile, Kansanshi Dynamos arrive in Kitwe looking to bounce back from a 2-2 draw against NAPSA Stars.
The Solwezi outfit have managed one win, two draws and two defeats from their opening five matches, leaving them sixth on the Stream A standings with five points.
Nkana, meanwhile, occupy fourth position with 10 points from five matches and will be keen to close the gap on the teams above them.
The historical record between the two sides points to a potentially tight contest, with Nkana claiming three victories against Kansanshi’s one in their last 10 meetings, while six encounters have ended in draws.
Malama has also appealed to Nkana supporters to turn out in numbers and provide responsible support, emphasising the important role they play in creating a formidable home atmosphere.
“To our loyal supporters, you are a very important part of this football club. All we ask for is your continuous support, and obviously, you must support us responsibly. We need you, and we rely on you. We want every team that comes here not just to face the eleven players on the pitch, but also to feel your contribution,” he said.
Nkana will be hoping to turn home advantage into another three points as they seek to strengthen their position in Stream A, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
