Forest Rangers target first ABSA Cup title

By the ZamFoot Crew | March 12, 2021

Forest Rangers have set their sights on winning the 2021 ABSA Cup, head coach Tenant Chilumba has revealed.

Chilumba was speaking to the ZamFoot Crew this morning during the ABSA Cup quarter-finals pre-match press conference held at Woodlands Stadium.

The Ndola-based side will open their campaign on Saturday against National Division One side, Konkola Blades.

“We are ready and have done our homework. It will be a tricky game to play a team in the lower division. We are very focused, we have set our target to win the tournament,” he said.

“It will be focused, it will be a normal game for us. The pressure is always there, the management wants silverware but so far do good.”

Fole Malembe captain Laurent Muma said qualifying for the ABSA Cup is a motivation for his team.

“Qualifying for ABSA Cup is a big motivation for us, We are have prepared well and are ready for tomorrow’s game, “he said.

Meanwhile, Konkola Blades boss Lewingtone Mujembe said the game would be played on the pitch and not social media where the two teams have taken it a notch up in terms of banter.

His captain Kelly Kayembe believes his team has to be proud of their journey so far.

“We are very excited and looking forward to having a good game. The game will be played on the pitch,” Mujembe said.

“So far so good, we have to be proud and we ready to face Forest Rangers,” Kayembe said.

Forest Rangers and Konkola Blades will square off at 12:30 at Woodlands Stadium for a place in the semifinals.

The winners will walk away with K600 000 which was supposed to be the prize money for last year, a 20% increment from the K500 000 Zesco United pocketed in 2019 the last time the tournament was held. The runners-up will walk away with K250 000.

The player of the tournament and coach of the tournament will pocket K25, 000 each with the man of the match walking away with K15, 000.