By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Green Eagles coach Perry Mutapa has warned his players against complacency, insisting their perfect start to the MTN Super League Transitional Season will count for little if they fail to maintain their standards when they face struggling Nkwazi on Saturday.
Eagles travel into the Stream B encounter, scheduled for 15:00 hours, sitting top of the standings with nine points from three matches after winning all their opening fixtures.
Their latest success was a narrow 1-0 victory over Runy United, but Mutapa has cautioned his side against reading too much into their early-season form, with 15 matches still remaining in the campaign.
“We have only played three games. Three wins were good, but there is more to play. There are 15 games remaining, so three games do not mean anything even if we have collected nine points,” Mutapa said.
The coach acknowledged that Saturday’s meeting presents a significant challenge for both sides, with Eagles looking to extend their winning run while Nkwazi desperately seek their first victory of the season.
“It is a big game for us and a big game for Nkwazi, knowing that they really need a victory, but we also want to maintain our winning streak,” he added.
Nkwazi occupy seventh place with two points from three matches. After losing their opening fixture, they have drawn their subsequent two games, including a goalless stalemate against Chirundu United at home.
Despite their opponents’ difficult start, Mutapa is expecting a competitive encounter and says his team must concentrate on building on their strengths while addressing the weaknesses identified in previous performances.
“The encouragement is to do what we have been doing well and, of course, to make corrections in what we have not been doing well. It is a project, and we hope that going into the fourth game, we are going to see a lot of improvements because the more you play, the more improvements you should have,” he said.
Eagles have also made an encouraging start in their execution of set pieces, an area Mutapa believes can prove decisive in tight matches.
“Football is a game of details, and set pieces are part of those details. We just have to keep working on them. Especially this season, I think we have done them well, so we just hope to continue,” he said.
Mutapa also praised the supporters who travelled from Lusaka to back the team in their previous home fixture, expressing confidence that they will once again turn out in numbers to inspire the players.
“Last weekend, the supporters from Lusaka did a marvellous job. We know we are in Lusaka, so we know they are going to come and push the team,” he said.
However, the head-to-head record suggests Nkwazi should not be underestimated. According to the pre-match statistics, the two sides have each recorded four wins and shared two draws in their last 10 meetings.
With Eagles aiming to protect their perfect start and Nkwazi desperate to get their campaign moving, Saturday’s encounter offers both sides an important test of their ambitions in the Transitional Season.
