Kansanshi Dynamos assistant coach Dennis Makinka says his side will approach their upcoming run of difficult fixtures without pressure as they battle to climb out of the relegation zone.
The Mabanga Boys host Mufulira Wanderers on Saturday in a Week 23 MTN Super League encounter scheduled for 15:00 hours, with the Solwezi-based outfit looking to bounce back from their recent defeat away in Choma.
Makinka admitted that the team’s position on the table is a concern after results elsewhere pushed them back into the relegation zone, but he remains confident there is still enough time to turn things around.
“We’ve been looking at the table and obviously after yesterday’s games we dropped back into the relegation zone. But we still have a lot of games to play. We have about 12 matches remaining,” Makinka said.
The Kansanshi assistant coach also acknowledged that March presents a particularly demanding schedule for the club, with several tough matches coming in quick succession.
“It’s a difficult month with about three games in seven days. We have tough matches against teams like Mighty, Power Dynamos and Red Arrows who are enjoying good form. But we love playing games like these. You just have to enjoy them and play without pressure.”
Kansanshi will face a confident Mufulira Wanderers side that has been impressive in recent weeks and heads into the match following a victory over FC MUZA in their last outing.
Makinka expects a competitive contest but believes playing at home could give Kansanshi the advantage.
“Mighty are playing very good football at the moment and we expect a tough game. But we are playing at home with our supporters behind us and we should rise to the occasion. The boys are committed and ready to fight for the team.”
With the club currently sitting in the relegation zone, Makinka says the message to the players has been simple — they must take responsibility and work together to lift the team out of danger.
“We keep reminding the players that it’s us who took the team where it is, and it’s us who must take it out of that position. The players are capable. We showed that a few weeks ago when we picked up some positive results.”
The assistant coach also revealed that improving their finishing has been one of the key areas the team has focused on ahead of the match.
“Our major problem has been converting chances. We have been playing well in games but not finishing our opportunities. If we improve on that tomorrow, we will be good to go.”
Kansanshi Dynamos currently sit 14th on the MTN Super League table with 22 points, while Mufulira Wanderers are fifth with 37 points — a 15-point gap between the two sides.
Kansanshi Dynamos have won just one of their last six matches, losing three and drawing two. Meanwhile, Mufulira Wanderers have won five of their last six games.
Historically, meetings between Kansanshi Dynamos and Mufulira Wanderers have been closely contested. During the 2019/20 season, Kansanshi Dynamos won 2–0 away through goals from Royd Alufonso and Norbert Chisala before the reverse fixture ended 1–1, with Alufonso again on the scoresheet while Douglas Muwowo equalised for Wanderers. The two sides played out goalless draws in both fixtures during the 2023/24 season, and their first meeting in the 2025/26 campaign also ended 0–0 in Mufulira, highlighting how tight this fixture has traditionally been.
