Green Eagles head coach Perry Mutapa says his side are fully prepared for Saturday’s Military Derby against Green Buffaloes and believes recent performances have provided the perfect platform to finally secure a long-awaited win over their rivals.
Eagles head into the clash in strong form, sitting fourth in the MTN Super League table with 44 points after back-to-back victories over ZANACO and Mutondo Stars. They are unbeaten in their last six matches, with three wins and three draws, and Mutapa believes the team’s recent run has sharpened them for one of their biggest fixtures of the season.
“We’ve done very well in terms of preparations,” Mutapa said ahead of the match.
“The Mutondo, Konkola and ZANACO games were exactly the preparations we needed going into this Military Derby.”
Despite the positive momentum, Mutapa admitted his side’s biggest frustration this season has been their inability to convert chances consistently.
“From the start of the season, I have said it time and time again: if we had taken responsibility in terms of scoring, we would have been winning games 3-1, 4-2, 4-1.
“It’s just that responsibility of taking our chances.”
Having comfortably moved clear of the relegation battle, the Eagles boss says the focus has now shifted to finishing the campaign strongly.
“Our target was the 40 to 43-point mark. Mathematically, the teams in the relegation zone cannot catch us, so we can safely say we can’t be relegated.
“Our target now is to do very well in the remaining games and finish the league in a reputable position.”
Mutapa will, however, be without key players for the derby. Defender Bornface Sunzu and Kunda Nkandu remain sidelined through injury, while goalkeeper Geoffrey Silavwe is unavailable against his parent club, Green Buffaloes.
“Injuries — Bornface Sunzu is still out, Kunda Nkandu is still out. Of course the goalkeeper is match-tied because Green Buffaloes is his mother club. Those are the only concerns,” he said.
The Eagles coach also praised the club’s supporters after their strong turnout during the midweek win over ZANACO and urged them to provide the same backing in Lusaka.
“It was marvellous on Wednesday at Sunset to see those supporters giving us that 12th player we needed.
“I think playing again in Lusaka, if they come in numbers and support the guys, we will make sure we give them back the results.”
Hosts Green Buffaloes, meanwhile, sit 11th on 35 points and come into the derby on the back of a goalless draw against FC MUZA. They have managed just one win in their last 10 league matches, drawing six and losing three.
The reverse fixture ended 1-1, and Green Eagles are winless in their last six meetings with Buffaloes, with the last three encounters all ending level.
Saturday’s derby therefore presents Mutapa’s men with both a chance to strengthen their top-four ambitions and finally break a stubborn run against one of their fiercest rivals.
By Angela Bambala Bwalya
