By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
NEWLY appointed Napsa Stars coach, Hector Chilombo has vowed to transform the club into a winning side that should ably challenge for the MTN-FAZ Premier League title.
Chilombo, who signed a two-year contract with Napsa on January 1, said he was targeting a top two finish in the league this season to ensure the club plays continental football as well as reclaiming the Barclays Cup.
The former Forest Rangers coach said he understood the culture of the club well having played for the team when it was then known as Profund Warriors and that he will have no difficulties settling in.
Chilombo reunites with two of his former players at Profund in Evans Sakala and Sam Banda coming in as assistant coach and goalkeeper coach respectively as the trio aim to turn around the misfortunes of the club.
Napsa spent most of last season fighting relegation until the last day to finish fourth from the bottom with 37 points having won 10 matches drawing seven and lost 14 scoring 29 goals and conceded 35 goals.
“I am happy to have been appointed coach of this club (Napsa) with a rich history and I want to transform the team just like it was during my playing days we (Profund) almost qualified for continental competitions after finishing third on the log in 1992.
We just need to reinforce the team by bringing in young players to work with the older players, which also means that some players will have to go. I feel we can manage to turn around the club from fighting relegation to challenging for the league title,” he said.
Chilombo, who is also Zambia Under-20 assistant coach takes over from Peter Kaumba who parted ways with Napsa after an unsuccessful 2013 season. Kaumba had taken over from Patrick Phiri, who is now at Green Buffaloes.
Prior to his confirmation as Napsa coach, Chilombo was in charge of Forest, who got relegated, he also had a stint at Power Dynamos as assistant to Bestone Chambeshi and was assistant to Keagan Mumba who Zambia won the COSAFA Youth Cup in 2011 in Botswana.
Meanwhile, Chilombo revealed that Napsa will on Monday kick off their pre-season training with a tour of Mongu in the Western Province.
