NAPSA Stars Football Club Head Coach Perry Mutapa has confirmed that midfielder Austin Banda and defender David Odhiambo have been ruled out of tomorrow’s ABSA Cup semi-final match against Nkana owing to injuries.
The Coach confirmed the development this morning during a press briefing held by ABSA Bank and the Football Association of Zambia at Woodlands Stadium ahead of this weekend’s matches.
Coach Perry has however stated that he will have to use other members of his team for this match which NAPSA Stars qualified for after eliminating Super League side Green Buffalos FC in the quarter-final round.
And this is the second ABSA Cup game Austin Banda will miss after the player suffered another injury in the quarter-final match played against GBFC at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Defender David Odhiambo is still injured from the time he pulled a muscle in a league match played against Quattro FC in North Western Province last week.
“Two of our key players are out. Austin got injured during training yesterday and Odhiambo got injured last week. It is a setback yes, but, also a great opportunity for other players to step up,” Coach Perry adds.
Coach Perry also adds that playing a team like Nkana is great motivation for his side especially going into the last five league matches to conclude the League.
He has described tomorrow’s game as huge adding that his side has done its best in terms of preparations ahead of this match.
Nkana qualified to this match after eliminating Lumwana Radiants FC in their quarter-final match.
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