By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Green Eagles head coach Perry Mutapa has challenged his players to improve their finishing as the Stream B leaders prepare to face Chirundu United in a Week Seven MTN Super League Transitional Season encounter on Wednesday.
The Kawale-based outfit head into the fixture on the back of a goalless draw against Kabwe Warriors, extending their unbeaten run to five matches.
Green Eagles have collected 11 points from three wins and two draws to sit at the top of Stream B and will be looking to maintain their perfect start without defeat while strengthening their position with another positive result.
However, Mutapa believes his side must become more clinical in front of goal after wasting several scoring opportunities in their previous outing.
The Green Eagles coach acknowledged that the short turnaround between matches had limited preparations but said the technical bench had used the available time to address the team’s shortcomings, particularly in front of goal.
“I think there hasn’t been a lot of time to prepare, but with the little time we have, we have done what we can. In the last game, we missed a lot of chances, so we just worked on finishing,” Mutapa said.
Despite Green Eagles recording back-to-back draws, Mutapa insists his focus is on improving performances rather than dwelling on dropped points.
He distinguished between the two results, explaining that his side struggled to create opportunities against Nkwazi but had enough chances against Kabwe Warriors to score considerably more goals.
“I’m not going to talk about the Nkwazi game because we didn’t create a lot of chances. But in the past game, we could have scored more, even more than four.
“We just have to put the ball in the back of the net and concentrate because we have been doing well, especially with the back line. I think we haven’t conceded a lot of goals, so we are just going to continue and hopefully, in tomorrow’s encounter, we are going to put the ball in the back of the net,” he added.
With Green Buffaloes also featuring in the conversation around the top positions, Mutapa was quick to dismiss any distractions from the competition, insisting his team must concentrate on its own objectives.
“We are just focusing on ourselves. Buffaloes, they have got their own agenda and if they are at 11, it’s okay. But for us, I think more especially coming from the back-to-back draws, we need to do well in this encounter,” he said.
The tactician also played down the importance of individual contributions, emphasising that Green Eagles’ progress has been built on collective responsibility, with different players sharing the goalscoring burden.
“For us, we play as a team. If you have seen even the goalscorers, we have shared. Anyone who is eligible to be in the 28-man squad is a key player for us. So we just look forward to getting maximum points and then we pick it from there,” he said.
Chirundu United, however, will provide a stern test for the leaders after holding 2026 ABSA Cup champions Red Arrows to a goalless draw in their previous fixture.
The Chirundu-based side have recorded two wins, two draws and one defeat from five matches, collecting eight points to occupy fourth position in Stream B.
They will be hoping to use home advantage to end Green Eagles’ unbeaten run and close the gap on the teams above them.
With no previous head-to-head meetings between the two sides on record, Wednesday’s encounter presents a fresh challenge for both teams as the transitional campaign progresses.
On the injury front, Mutapa confirmed that Simon remains unavailable for selection as he continues his recovery. Although the player has resumed light training, he is yet to regain the match fitness required for competitive action.
“For now, from the last game, Simon. So going into this game, yes, he has started some light training, so he wasn’t eligible to be picked for this match because of match fitness. But otherwise, the team is free from injury,” he confirmed.
Mutapa also acknowledged the importance of supporters in motivating his players, recalling the encouragement they received during their previous home fixture despite being held to a draw.
He urged the Green Eagles faithful to turn out in numbers and rally behind the team, while also expressing appreciation to the club’s sponsors for their continued support.
“Even in the last encounter, a draw at home, you could see how the supporters gave the boys morale. So let’s come in numbers and give the boys morale,” Mutapa urged.
With Green Eagles targeting maximum points to consolidate their position at the summit and Chirundu United seeking to produce another impressive result, Wednesday’s encounter promises to be an important test for both sides.
For Mutapa, the priority is clear: turn his team’s attacking opportunities into goals and ensure Green Eagles maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
