By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Power Dynamos head coach Osward Mutapa has challenged his side to turn their recent setbacks into victories when they face struggling NAPSA Stars in a Week Seven MTN Super League Transitional Season encounter at Reiz Arena on Thursday.
The defending champions head to Lusaka looking to return to winning ways after being held to a goalless draw by Kitwe rivals Nkana FC in their previous outing.
Power have recorded two wins, two defeats and one draw from their opening five matches, leaving them fifth in the standings with seven points.
Mutapa insists his team must now deliver a positive result, with maximum points firmly in their sights despite anticipating a difficult encounter against the Pensioners.
“We are very much ready. We need to get the result. We lost against MUZA, drew against Nkana, so we have to get a positive result, which is three points. It is not an easy game, but we have to fight and get the result,” Mutapa said.
The Power coach was, however, encouraged by the atmosphere in camp, revealing that competition for starting places had boosted morale within the squad ahead of the trip to Lusaka.
“The mood is good. There is competition for places, but you can also see that their morale is very high,” he added.
NAPSA Stars, meanwhile, will be desperate to register their first victory of the campaign after a frustrating start to the transitional season.
The Pensioners have collected four draws and suffered one defeat in their opening five matches, leaving them eighth on the table with four points.
Their latest outing ended in a 2-2 draw against Kansanshi Dynamos, extending their search for a first win.
However, history favours the Kitwe outfit, who have dominated recent meetings between the two sides.
Power have won seven and drawn three of their last 10 encounters against NAPSA, leaving the Pensioners without a victory in that sequence.
The historical advantage gives the defending champions an additional confidence boost, although Mutapa will be aware that his side must translate its ambitions into a strong performance on the pitch.
The Power coach has also called on supporters in Lusaka to turn out in numbers and provide the team with the backing it needs.
“The fans, as usual in Lusaka, we haven’t played for a long time. They should come in numbers and give the team moral support,” he said.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 hours at Reiz Arena, with Power seeking to strengthen their position in the standings while NAPSA chase a much-needed breakthrough.
