Power Dynamos head coach Osward Mutapa says his side is fully prepared for Sunday’s ABSA Cup final against Red Arrows, but insists the newly crowned league champions cannot afford complacency.
Power turn their focus from league success to cup glory as they face their closest challengers at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in a clash between Zambia’s top two sides.
“We have done enough going into the final,” Mutapa said during a pre-match media briefing.
“Every player has featured this season, so we are mentally and physically prepared. Now it’s about application on the day.”
Despite Power’s strong form, Mutapa warned against underestimating Red Arrows, who finished second in the league standings.
“They are second for a reason. You can’t rule them out,” he said.
“This is football — you only win when you take your moments.”
The two sides also met in last season’s cup competition, with Arrows emerging victorious in the semi-finals, but Mutapa believes past results will have little influence on Sunday’s showdown.
“That was then. This is a final,” he said.
“We must apply ourselves correctly and take our chances.”
Power vice-captain Salulani Phiri said consistency has been the foundation of the club’s impressive campaign and believes the squad has the opportunity to secure a place in the club’s history.
“Consistency has brought us here,” Phiri said.
“This is a cup the club hasn’t won in a long time. We want to win it and write our names into Power Dynamos history.”
The winners of the ABSA Bank Zambia-sponsored competition will receive K1.1 million, while the runners-up will earn K450,000.
Individual honours will also be rewarded, with K25,000 prizes set aside for the Player of the Tournament, Golden Boot winner and Golden Glove recipient. Man-of-the-match winners during the finals weekend will receive K15,000.
