NAPSA host in-form FC MUZA in week six
The Zambia Super League will return to action on Saturday after a short recess following the FIFA international window.
The elite club competition in the country will enter week 6 of action and the Pensioners, NAPSA Stars are back at their home ground, the National Heroes Stadium as they host F.C MUZA.
The Pensioners are coming from a 1-0 loss away at Arthur Davies Stadium while Maestro United recorded an impressive 2-0 win over Nchanga Rangers ending their unbeaten run.
NAPSA Stars Head Coach Perry Mutapa says his side will be looking to collect maximum points against FC MUZA but he is alive to the fact that the Mazabuka based outfit won’t be a pushover.
“It will be a tough match, MUZA have done well. We were together in the National Division One League, they’ve only lost one game and they beat Nchanga in their last game, so they will come at us with a lot of confidence. We are coming from a loss, yes, but we are at home and we need the three points,” Mutapa said.
“I think it is both. Obviously we can say it’s early days, but still the points matter especially considering the way we are playing. I feel for the games we have drawn, we could have taken the maximum points and the games we lost, we could have at least gotten a point for the chances we have been creating. So we are being critical, yes, because we want to do well and the games are showing that we can do better.”
“The approach has always been great for me. We are only failing to score and that has been the biggest problem for us. Our defense creates chances and we are ok. All we need is converting those chances,” he added.
Mutapa believes the international break has given his team some time to prepare and be ready for the showdown with FC MUZA.
The former Orlando Pirates midfielder will again be missing from the touchline as he concludes his 3 match ban over match fixing comments from last season after a game against tomorrow’s opponents away in Mazabuka.
Apart from Mutapa, The Pensioners will also be without midfielder Leonard Mulenga who is serving a one match suspension after being sent off against Power Dynamos.
“In some ways, the international break gives the losing teams the time to settle and plan ahead, but at times, it breaks the momentum. For us, it has given us ample time to work on the areas we are supposed to and we will be able to go tomorrow and get a win,” he said.
“This is the biggest worry for us and you’re 100% on point. It’s a worry when you’re playing a team which is very compact. We know they have a plan and they will try to frustrate us, and we are at home so it will be worse especially when we don’t score in the first half. But as a technical bench, we always tell our players to keep it cool because football is played in 90 plus minutes.
I am not yet back on the touch line and I am only back in the game after this one. But we are planning on getting a win, it will be a tough game, but I have other coaches so all is ok.”
“I think every game is important for us. Yes we have faced big teams and in terms of results. I think we have done well, but we are now in the premier league and all that matters are points. So it means we have a lot to do in this match as NAPSA Stars. But it won’t be easy for them too because we are hosting them,” he added.
Meanwhile FC MUZA head coach Lameck Banda has declared his team ready for tomorrow’s clash against the Pensioners.
“The team is ready, we have done our preparations, we just expect a good game,” he said.
“Our approach remains the same as we go into this game to get maximum points. We want to play every game as a final. We believe NAPSA is a good side, they will come at us but we have the belief and confidence, we are equal to the task.”
“We have done our preparations and these are the results. When one prepares well, the expectation is to reap good results and I think the input from the boys has been excellent,” he added.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andrew Phiri has been in fine form for FC MUZA netting three goals so far this season.
The striker netted a brace as FC MUZA beat Nchanga Rangers to end the Chingola based outfit’s unbeaten run and will be eager to add to his tally.
He has continued from where he left off in the National Division One last season where he netted 16 times and provided 13 assists in 21 games.
NAPSA Stars on the other hand will bank on the likes of Musonda Kapembwa, Austin Banda and Jimmy ‘Zobrigo’ Mukeya to guide them to their second win of the season.
FC MUZA have won two of the last four meetings between the two teams with the other two games ending in draws.
Napsa Stars are currently 13th on the log with 5 points from five games played so far while Maestro United on the other hand are sixth with eight points from the five games they have played.