NAPSA Stars Football Club are set to visit Nakambala Stadium tomorrow for a week-23 match of the MTN Super League as the Perry Mutapa-coached side face F.C MUZA.
The Coach has previewed this match in a Pre-match Zoom meeting held with the media this morning.
Q. Expectations from this match as you visit FC MUZA in a week-23 match..
There will be no easy match in the second round. MUZA doing fantastic. And just like us, they are a team coming from National Division One. And so far they have done so well, They had an away fixture in Chingola and got a late equalizer, I know they want to win this game but we have also dropped points in the last two matches so we equally want to win this game.
Q. The team has struggled to pick points on the road, I think you have only won once away, what’s the challenge when you travel?
What is important for us is to pick up points. If we had done well last week, we were going to be in the top five, but we did not do well, so the most important thing is to pick up points. But so far so good for the second round as compared to the first round. We have turned the corner in the second round because we have one win and one draw. So, we are looking forward to a positive result.
Q. Are you as NAPSA Stars going to use the dressing room at Nakambala Ground tomorrow looking at how clubs have been avoiding that?
For me, there’s nothing like using the dressing room or not, but if it’s too small and because of the sake of hygiene, sometimes we might say we go outside . Football is not won in the dressing room, with football you must work hard and get the results right, we win by getting the tactics right.
Q. You had a good January, you did not open February the way you expected I am sure. Was there a level of complacency from your players and what are you telling them?
I don’t think so. I feel we dominated the late game, and we had more chances but sometimes football is like that. So, we have to pick up ourselves and know that last week’s loss is water under the bridge. We have to concentrate on tomorrow’s game and the games to come.
Q. You have repeatedly said you won’t get carried away with the good results especially those recorded in January, do you think where you are, your project is in the right direction, or you can still push to do better?
It could have been better, but this is football and we have to see where we are. We are not going to take anything for granted, we had a good run in January yes, but we have to continue and see how we move in the next matches.
Q. How do you rate your chances against MUZA looking at how they have performed?
I think they are one of the best performing teams in the league. They’ve done so well. But we will not dwell on that as NAPSA Stars, we also have an agenda which is staying in the league. No one is safe at this moment; it will be a tight game, but we have planned well for it. They are a young team with energetic players and they do well at home, but for us like I said, we have started well in the second round and definitely looking forward to recording a good result.
Q. You are one of the teams that managed to get a comfortable win against MUZA in the first round, do you think you will have a upper hand going into this match?
I think every match is different and the effort you put in is what matters. Of course, as coaches you plan during the week but what happens in the 90minutes is what matters. You must take your chances and you win your game, if you don’t take your chances you lose. So, the team that wants it more gets the result.
Q. Your comment on Augustine Mulenga’s form?
He has done well for a player who joined in the middle of the League running in the first round.
On talks and allegations about MUZA buying matches,
Coach Perry explained that MUZA is one of the teams that has played so well this season so far.
‘They are not just winning. We are giving them respect but it’s a team that has displayed good football and I just want to applaud them for the good work they have been doing.’
Ends