By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Power Dynamos coach Osward Mutapa has praised his side’s response to their opening-day defeat but insists the defending champions must become more clinical in front of goal after a narrow 1-0 victory over Nchanga Rangers at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Joshua Budo Mutale’s 14th-minute strike secured the three points for the Kitwe giants in their second fixture of the MTN Super League Transitional Season, allowing them to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat away to Konkola Blades.
However, while pleased with the result and his team’s overall performance, Mutapa believes Power Dynamos should have won by a more convincing margin after creating numerous scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half.
“Just like you have said, we could have scored more. The first 45 minutes were played at the highest intensity. Good play, created chances. We didn’t bury the chances,” Mutapa said.
The Power Dynamos coach warned that failing to convert chances could prove costly, pointing to their recent cup disappointment as an example of how wastefulness in front of goal can undermine an otherwise promising performance.
“In football, it’s dangerous. Look at the way we played in the cup, where we were able to create and didn’t score, and we’re out now. So we need to take advantage of the chances that we are creating,” he said.
Mutapa was convinced his side had created enough opportunities to score as many as five goals against Nchanga Rangers, but their inability to convert those chances left the contest closer than it should have been.
The coach revealed that he challenged his players at half-time to improve their finishing, using the high-scoring performances of other teams in the opening rounds as a benchmark for what Power Dynamos should be achieving.
“At half-time, I mentioned to the team, ‘Look, other teams are scoring four.’ I think we had two teams that scored four yesterday. So we need to emulate them because we are a team that is creating a lot of chances,” he said.
Despite their lack of cutting edge, the champions demonstrated greater control in the second half, managing possession and space to protect their slender advantage.
Mutapa explained that the approach was deliberate, with his side seeking to maintain defensive stability while remaining alert to the threat Nchanga Rangers posed on the counter-attack.
“Yes, first 45 minutes with good intensity. Second half, we managed the space. We also managed the possession. Yes, there are times when Rangers showed a bit of threat, especially in the transition, but I think our defence was proper in that direction,” he said.
That defensive discipline ensured Mutale’s early goal was enough to secure Power Dynamos’ first victory of the transitional campaign and restore confidence after their opening-week setback.
For Mutapa, the result was an encouraging response, but one that must be followed by greater consistency and improved efficiency in the final third as the champions pursue another league title.
Asked whether the pressure of chasing a third consecutive league crown was weighing on his players, Mutapa was quick to challenge the suggestion that Power Dynamos should be viewed as defending champions.
“Please don’t say that we are defending champions. We are champions, and we are still champions,” he said.
The coach maintained that his team had demonstrated the qualities that have made them champions but stressed that they must continue to prove themselves through their performances.
“We have to show, and I think today’s game was able to show why we are champions. But we need to show a lot of persistence going forward. We lost our first game. Good response today. But again, we need to score goals,” Mutapa said.
The victory lifts Power Dynamos to fifth place in Stream A with three points from two matches, while Nchanga Rangers remain bottom of the stream without a point after successive defeats.
Power Dynamos will now turn their attention to their next assignment against Kansanshi Dynamos in Solwezi, where Mutapa will hope his side can combine their attacking promise with the clinical finishing required to turn dominant performances into more convincing victories.
