The Pensioners are set for another battle tomorrow as they host North-Western side Lumwana Radiants FC in a week-20 match of the MTN Super League.
This match is scheduled for the Heroes Stadium at 15hours.
Coach Perry Mutapa has previewed this match in a Pre-match Press Briefing which was held via zoom with the media this morning.’
Here’s how the briefing was;
Q. What are your expectations from this match as you host a Lumwana side that beat you in the first round?
It’s a game which we have to win, but it will not be easy because Lumwana have done well on the road, they beat Green Eagles in Choma which means they are good travelers, so we just have to be ready for them, but we are at home, in fact for us to be where we are, I think we have collected a lot of points at home.
Q. In your last three matches, you’ve won all games, scored about eight goals and only conceded two, and with the position you’re at now, do you start dreaming about continental football?
It’s a reality but of course we cannot forget where we are coming from. The most important thing for us now is to stabilize because at one point in the first round we were on fourth, then sixth and then on 10th position, so for now we want to build, stay calm and concentrate on the next match which is against Lumwana.
Q. Any injury concerns in the team?
Everyone is fit for battle tomorrow. We have a healthy squad, and we will choose from all the available players, so no injury concerns.
Q. With the current form of your players, are we seeing NAPSA Stars recruiting more players?
Where we are as NAPSA Stars, we are happy with what we have done in the last three games, and happy to be sixth on the log, but not excited so in every situation you have to improve yourself, so we cannot rule out bringing in players and we shall wait until the last day.
Q. What approach are you taking as we head into this match?
I think it’s one thing I have noticed about this league, most of the teams including us, have been a little inconsistent, maybe except for Power Dynamos who are leading the log. But of course, the way we have played in the last matches, we have shown some consistency so the most important thing I think in football. It’s a league where most teams have been inconsistent and the break made us work on a few things, we are hoping if we bring in some quality, and with the way the last games have shown that we have improved by managing to score and defend, we should be able to do well in this second round. I know tomorrow’s game will be tough but I hope we continue on a good path.
Q. What are you telling your boys going into this match?
I am telling them that we passed through a stretch which saw us lose a lot of matches so it’s a lesson we have learnt, and we do not want to go back to that stretch because it’s not easy to lose and come back to winning ways. From how they are responding, you can see that we have learnt something from that, and I hope from the work we have put in this week to prepare for this match, it’s all going to show tomorrow. We do not have to relax but put in our best to beat this determined Lumwana side.