By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
“ZANACO will not make it easy for me to win this game because I am their former coach,” said Aggrey Chiyangi ahead of his return to face his former side in a MTN/FAZ Week Seven rescheduled fixture.
The stage is well set for the two teams to end their first round of the season at magnificent Heroes National Stadium where Chiyangi will be looking to outsmart his former ‘student’ Numba Mumamba in order to reduce gap at the top of the table.
Zanaco sit pretty at the top of the table with 37 points, six clear of 12-time champions Nkana after 16 games played.
Chiyangi refused to allow emotions get the better of him, saying he will put aside any attachments he has with Zanaco and concentrate on picking maximum points.
He admitted that the game would be tough because his side was facing the league leaders.
“These are two big teams facing each other. It has never been easy when two big teams are playing. But the good thing about it is that my players get extra motivated every time they face a big team.
“It will not be an emotional return. It doesn’t matter whether I coached there, for me it is game like any other and we will be concentrating on picking full points,” Chiyangi said.
It will be the first time Chiyangi will be facing Zanaco after he led the team to a second place position two years ago.
Mumamba on the other hand said Zanaco are determined to end the first half of the season on a positive note to build the momentum ahead of the second round.
He said Nkana had been one of the consistent teams this season and the players would need to be at their best to pick a win.
“Nkana has been playing well of late, they are one of the consistent teams this season and not too long ago, they were on top of the table. This shows how tough this game will be.
“We are coming from a 6-0 win against Blackpool, so our confidence levels are high and we will build on that positive result. It will be good to end the first round on a positive note,” Mumamba said.
This year’s statistics will favour Zanaco to win the tie as they have the best striking force and jointly best defence with Zesco.
Zanaco has scored 33 goals compared to Nkana’s 27 and while the league leaders have allowed only six goals their opponents today have let in 15 goals. Whereas Nkana have a full strength squad, Zanaco have two key players Racha Kola and Rodrick Kabwe ruled out due to injury.