By FELIX MALUNGA-
NKANA’S preparations for the CAF Confederation Cup Group B match against Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast this weekend got a timely boost when skipper Sydney Kalume returned from suspension.
Kalume missed Nkana’s first group match away at Al Ahly of Egypt last weekend after accumulating two yellow cards from the previous matches.
The Zambian champions, who lost 2-0 to Ahly in Cairo, desperately need to revive their continental aspirations when Sewe visit Kitwe on Saturday.
Nkana coach, Masautso Mwale said yesterday that the club was happy to have Kalume, a defensive midfielder, back in the squad for the weekend assignment.
Mwale said the team had a full house in yesterday’s two training sessions and that there were no injury concerns.
He, however, said international defender, Christopher Munthali, who is serving a two-match ban from CAF, would miss the Sewe tie at Nkana Stadium.
On whether he had plans to shuffle his squad for the Ivorians, Mwale said: “That will depend on the response from the players in training this week. I may make a few changes.”
After losing the opening match, Mwale said Nkana had no choice but to collect maximum points in the Saturday match and redeem the team’s chances of reaching the semi-finals.
“We have to win at home. We are positive of winning,” he said.
As Nkana were losing to Africa’s club of the century in Egypt, Sewe were held to a 1-1 draw at home by former African champions, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.