MUMAMBA BEMOANS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT AS CLUB SHIFT FOCUS TO LOCAL LEAGUE

ZESCO United Coach Numba Mumamba is saddened by the teams exit from the 2021/22 CAF champions league.

The Zambian Super League champions failed to book a place in the second phase of the CAF Champions League qualifying series despite beating Royal Leopards 2-1 at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium on Saturday with the latter qualifying to the second round on an away goal rule.

Royal Leopards came into Saturday’s encounter with their noses in front following their 1-0 home victory against the Zambian league champions.

ZESCO United scored through a 29’ minute Tafadzwa Rusike overhead kick only for Andy Junior to level matters for the visiting team in the 34’ minute.

Veteran striker Winstone Kalengo  put the hosts in front with a 48’ powerful header which left ZESCO United only needing a goal to qualify to the next qualifying phase.

In the 60’ ZESCO United were awarded a penalty after the Royal Leopards defender handled Kelvin Kampamba’s cross destined for the visitor’s penalty box.

Kenyan international striker Jesse Were stepped up to take the spot kick only to see his  his low cut shot saved by Dlamini.

In his post-match comments, Mumamba expressed disappointment with the teams early exit from the continents coveted football showpiece.

“ZESCO United is one of the big teams in Southern Africa. People expected us to do better than what we have done. They expected us to go further in this competition. But football is what it is especially when you squander your opportunities and your opponent’s take advantage.

We need to get down to work and focus on the league and make sure that the next time we participate in the competition we do better than what we have done.”

Mumamba bemoaned the team’s failure to take advantage of the opportunities they created in the game.

“This was a game that we controlled. This is a game that we created chances that could have made a difference at the end unfortunately we couldn’t convert chances that came our way. We even missed a penalty.

The unfortunate has happened as such we have to accept the outcome and concentrate on the league since we are out of the CAF Champions League competition,” he said.

ZESCO United will this Wednesday shift their focus to the MTN Super League week three fixtures against Chambeshi football club to be played at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium, Ndola.

Author: Desmond Katongo