. Lwandamina

From KALUMIANA KALUMIANA In Sekondi, Ghana –
ZESCO United coach George Lwandamina is defiant his charges can overturn the two-nil deficit at home this Sunday against Medeama to advance in the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup.
Ghana’s sole representative in this year’s continental club competition, Medeama beat Zesco 2-0 on Sunday at Essipong Stadium in Sekondi in the two side’s last 16 first leg match.
Lwandamina said in a post-match interview here in Sekondi that he was backing his boys to make a major comeback in the return leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium this Sunday.
“We have lost but we are not out so the question of scoring three goals, or more than three goals, is out. We still have another half to go. We will play offensively, that will be our game plan, even today (Sunday) that was an offensive approach unfortunately we have lost but fortunately we are still in it,” Lwandamina said.
The defeat has left Zesco on a knife edge needing to score three unanswered goals this weekend to produce a dramatic turnaround at home to advance to the pre-group stage of the competition.
Meanwhile, Medeama coach Carlos Paulette said he was not taking Zesco for granted because of the two-goal cushion garnered from the first leg.
“They are a very technical team and are a very strong side and they have a nice touch on the ball and I think they are going to be a challenge for us. I think at the end it is about how much we want it. It will be a difficult match but we are going out there to get the result we want,” Paulette said.
Medeama beat Zesco thanks to goals from a ninth minute strike from Nathaniel Asamoah before Michael Helegene completed the home sides win when he converted a penalty in the 81st minute.
Meanwhile, Zesco Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Mumba said Togolese and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Emmanuel Matias is set to join the club today on loan with Chipolopolo defender Hichani Himoonde set to finally join this week.
Matias has joined Zesco on a short term loan from Sundowns after the South African club exceeded its foreign quota for the 2013/2014 season.
The defender linked up with his Zesco team mates in Sekondi on Sunday just before the Ndola sides’ 2014 CAF Confederation Cup last 16 first leg match against Medeama.
“We have a partnership with Sundowns and they asked us if we could accommodate the players from six months to one year. Hichani didn’t have match fitness so they had to keep him in South Africa for a while and he is joining the team on Friday.
I can also confirm that their International Transfer Certificate’s are done and the registrations have been done,” Mumba said, who added that Matias and Himonde’s loan deals are subject for review in July.