COACH Perry Mutapa has previewed his team’s rescheduled week-7 match against ZESCO united in a Pre-match Press Conference held via zoom this morning.
The match is set for Heroes Stadium at 15hrs tomorrow.
Here is every word from this Press Conference
What should we expect from NAPSA Stars in tomorrow’s match especially that the team is coming from recording a draw in the previous match?
The team is coming from a draw, the guys put up a spirited fight in Kansanshi and obviously now playing Zesco at home, we need to pick up maximum points but it’s not going to be easy because we are playing a team which has done well in the last ten years.
David Odhiambo, you will be facing your former team, just what are your expectations from this match?
As NAPSA Stars we are ready for this game, hopefully we come out the best tomorrow.
With the happenings at Zesco United, how is NAPSA taking this game and how prepped are you for such an eventuality knowing that Zesco may want to impress in this match with the things going on at the Club?
Obviously Zesco not having a coach will see the players trying to push themselves and this is the case most of the time, change of technical bench sees those who have remained try to use new players who may want to impress, so it’s going to be difficult for both teams, more especially for us because this is when they’re more dangerous, so we know what to expect as NAPSA Stars. It won’t be easy but we are preparing this game to win. We are at home and we are planning for a victory.
Should we expect Augustin Mulenga starting this game?
It’s quite tricky and we are going to have our last training session this morning ahead of this match. Augustine has been on the layoff for a long time but it’s a thing we need to discuss with the medical team, the player himself and the technical team because it’s not easy to be on a long layoff and come back to play. We do not want to really rush him but of course he is a player who has brought in something to our game so might risk of hold on and see how many minutes we can give him.
So are you saying he is not really fit to start?
In football, we have management of players so if a player has not played for some time and you rush them to play for longer minutes in games then you are putting that player again on a risk to be injured, so we are aware of where Augustin is coming from and we are going to do the best for him so that he gives us the best and the best for the team. It’s not easy when you have not played for some time.
You have been a little been inconsistent especially in your scoring, how are you addressing that as a coach and do you see yourself going into the market to look for a more experienced striker with the transfer window approaching?
We have an experienced player in Augustin, we know he will bring in something. He has been used in that role before so we know he will do well for us.
Coach you are known to thrive when you face big teams like ZESCO, are you carrying that same mentality going into tomorrow’s game especially looking at what ZESCO is going through currently?
ZESCO is more dangerous now especially with what is going on at the Club. This will be a tough game and we know they will push themselves. So we know what to do, we are at home and it’s not just about ZESCO, we are slowly building a team and we know every game is important to us so it does not matter which team we play with, we just have to push in every game we play and tomorrow’s game is no exception.
Odhiambo you had a great time at ZESCO, playing your former team, how are you approaching this game and how easy or difficult will it be facing your former team?
I don’t think it will be difficult because this is work for me. I was there, I did my part, but now I am with NAPSA Stars so I have to give my best here and try to achieve something with the club. So tomorrow’s game will be a game just like any other game and we will try to give our best.
We are focused on this game, we know they do not have a coach now but it’s only a change of guard from their side. It’s the same team so it’s all about focus and we will give our best.