By Angela Bambala Bwalya ZANACO head coach Numba Mumamba has warned his side to expect a difficult test against Kansanshi Dynamos as the Bankers look to secure their first home victory of the 2026 MTN Super League transitional season.
Zanaco host Kansanshi at Sunset Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00, knowing that maximum points would provide a timely boost to the team’s confidence after a disappointing start to their home campaign.
The Bankers have struggled to turn home advantage into victories, most recently being held to a 1-1 draw by NAPSA Stars. Mumamba is under no illusions about the challenge posed by a Kansanshi side buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Konkola Blades in their previous outing.
The coach believes that result will give the visitors added confidence heading into the encounter.
“Another tricky encounter that we have ahead of us. We are playing Kansanshi Dynamos, who are coming from a victory against Konkola Blades, and this is what makes the game very tricky, especially that they are motivated after beating a team that is on top of the log,” Mumamba said.
The Zanaco coach acknowledged that pressure is mounting on his team after they failed to collect maximum points in their first two home fixtures, admitting that the players must respond with a stronger performance against Kansanshi.
He stressed the importance of securing a positive result, not only to improve their league position but also to reward the continued backing of their supporters and sponsors.
“For us, this puts us a bit under pressure. Looking at the two games that we have played at home, we have not collected maximum points. So this time around, the pressure is on us to make sure that we fight hard so that at least we put a smile on our fans and our sponsors,” he added.
Mumamba said preparations for Saturday’s encounter have focused on studying Kansanshi’s recent performances, with the technical bench analysing the visitors’ style of play to identify potential weaknesses.
The coach believes the work carried out during the week will help Zanaco develop an effective game plan for the contest.
“In terms of preparations, every time we are preparing the team, we have to prepare looking at the opponent that we are meeting. That is what determines the preparations for the team,” he said.
“For this game, we have prepared our team looking at how our opponents are playing. We have done a bit of homework by doing some research and watching the games that Kansanshi have played recently, so that we have a bit of insight, which makes it easy for us to plan.”
Saturday’s meeting brings together two sides with identical records after the opening three rounds of the transitional campaign, having each recorded one win, one draw and one defeat.
Zanaco occupy fifth place in Stream A with four points, level with Kansanshi in sixth, with goal difference separating the two teams.
The standings underline the importance of the encounter, with both sides seeking to build momentum and strengthen their position as the transitional season progresses.
Zanaco will also draw encouragement from their historical record against Kansanshi, having won five of their nine previous meetings. The visitors have recorded two victories, while the other two encounters ended in draws.
However, Kansanshi claimed a 1-0 victory in their most recent meeting in February 2026, offering a reminder that the Bankers face a determined opponent capable of upsetting them.
With both teams eager to climb the Stream A standings, Zanaco will need to convert their preparations into a convincing performance if they are to end their wait for a home win and ease the pressure on Mumamba.
