ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
ZESCO United Head coach Numba Mumamba believes team unity will enhance the league champions chances of defending the Zambian Super League title.
Mumamba led ZESCO United to the clubs ninth league championship in his first season as coach.
The 2021/22 league season has, however come with its own share of obstacles for the league defending champions who recently saw their fortunes in the CAF Champions League shuttered in the first preliminary rounds of the qualifiers.
ZESCO United’s elimination from the CAF champions league meant that the team had to refocus its energies towards defending the country’s most sought after title, the MTN Super League.
The nine times super league champions have thus far played three league matches, won two and lost one.
ZESCO United’s 2-0 defeat to MTN Super League promoted side Kafue Celtic left Mumamba demanding for better work attitude from his players.
“The attitude from players has improved after a very bad loss in Lusaka. We have been talking to our team so that we focus on the next mission. What happened in Lusaka is not what we expected. But that has happened and what is crucial is to quickly focus on the coming games.
The players are responding well, we are pushing them hard so that the time the league resumes we begin catching up with the teams ahead of us. Our success hinges largely on playing as a team and moving in the same direction.”
We are working on their mental aspect so that we can consume what is coming our way whether positive or negative. People are still upset due to results that haven’t come our way. This is a crucial time to be supportive to the players so that we can give them the confidence they need to give us the best results.”
Meanwhile, Mumamba hopes to lineup a few friendlies for the team ahead of Wednesday’s MTN Super League clash against Kabwe Warriors.
“Most of our players have left to join their Nations during this FIFA calendar of international fixtures. We will see if we could secure one or two friendly games during the week before we can start the league so that we keep the team in shape. We need to comeback on a high.”
ZESCO United yesterday beat Ndola United 2-1 in a friendly game played at Ndola’s Trade Fair Grounds.
Author: Desmond Katongo
