By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
A CONFIDENT 25-member Nkana squad yesterday left for Cairo ahead of this weekend’s 2014 CAF Champions League second round return leg match against Egyptian giants, Zamalek.
With the draws of the group stage set for April 1, Nkana players expressed optimism of advancing to the lucrative group stages by beating Zamalek on Sunday.
Defenders Noel Phiri and Billy Mwanza said in separate interviews before departure that the Kitwe giants, who left in the afternoon from the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola via Addis Ababa, were aiming for an outright victory.
Phiri said the players were fully aware of what was at stake and that nothing will stop Nkana from humiliating and eliminating the White Knights in their own backyard.
“We are not going there for a draw, we are going to win and with God everything is possible. People may say Zamalek are hard to beat at home but we are very focused to get a positive result because we have worked very hard,” he said.
Mwanza said Nkana will be the first team to beat Zamalek who still remain unbeaten at their home turf in the CAF champions League this season.
“We know what we want so we just have to finish the job we started, we believe in God and he will give us the victory that we want,” said the former Chipolopolo defender.
Midfielder Chileshe Kabwe said his side would replicate the first round display that saw them record an away victory against Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) after the two teams drew 2-all in Kitwe.
“We are approaching this game very seriously and we are looking forward to a victory and nothing else. And I am sure that we shall achieve that result,” Kabwe said.
Coach Masautso Mwale said though the team would miss the services of midfielder Donashano Malama and defender Christopher Munthali, who are suspended after accumulating two yellow cards each, the team had enough fire power to deliver a positive result.
“The team would miss Malama and Munthali but we have replaced them and we believe we have depth in the squad and the boys are geared for the encounter,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s envoys in the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup, Zesco United arrived home yesterday from Ghana where lost to Medeama 2-0 with the second leg billed for Levy Mwanawasa Stadium this weekend.