By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Trident FC head coach Kebby Hachipuka has made his intentions clear ahead of Saturday’s MTN Super League transitional season encounter against NAPSA Stars, insisting his side must secure maximum points at Sentinel Ground in Kalumbila.
Trident suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nkana FC in their opening fixture and will be determined to bounce back in front of their home supporters.
NAPSA Stars, meanwhile, head into the match after being held to a 1-1 draw by FC MUZA at home, with the visitors also seeking their first victory of the campaign.
Hachipuka acknowledges that his side faces a difficult test but believes preparations have put the players in a position to deliver a positive result.
“Yeah, it’s a tough one, but playing at home, we’ve prepared well. We’ve prepared our boys mentally and physically. We just have to win this game,” Hachipuka said.
Sikasote suspension presents selection challenge
Trident will be without striker Sam Sikasote, who has been suspended after starting their opening match against Nkana.
His absence presents a setback for Hachipuka, but the coach remains confident that the available players can step up and fill the gap.
“It is a blow because he started the previous game, but at the same time, we’ve got enough manpower. He’s irreplaceable and we’ve worked on that. The ones we have prepared have shown that they can do it,” he said.
Hachipuka also revealed that his technical bench has adopted a different tactical approach ahead of the encounter, using a friendly match against a lower-division side to assess the team’s preparations.
“We’ve planned a different approach and we have psyched our players and tested our plan. Yesterday, we had a test match with a lower-division team just to test our plan, which really showed us that it is going to work for us,” Hachipuka added.
Coach calls for supporters’ backing
With Trident determined to secure their first points of the campaign, Hachipuka has urged supporters to turn up in numbers and rally behind the team.
The coach acknowledged the backing they received in their opening fixture despite the disappointing result and is hopeful that the fans will once again provide the encouragement needed to push the players towards victory.
“For the supporters, I think in the previous game they did well despite disappointing them. I can ask them to come in numbers so they can give the boys support. I’m sure on Saturday we’ll give them maximum points and put smiles on their faces,” he said.
Previous meetings point to a tight contest
The historical record between Trident and NAPSA Stars suggests Saturday’s encounter could be closely contested.
The two sides last met during the 2023/24 season, with both meetings ending in draws. The first encounter finished 1-1 before the return fixture ended goalless.
Both teams will now be looking to break that pattern and register their first victory of the transitional campaign.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 hours at Sentinel Ground in Kalumbila on Saturday, 10 October.
