. Lwandamina

By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
ZESCO United coach George Lwandamina says the team will rise after the disappointing defeat to Wydad Casablanca in the CAF 2016 Champions League Group A game.
Zesco lost 2-0 in Morocco on Thursday in the team’s second group games which saw the Zambian champions surrender the top spot to drop to third on three points after beating Al Ahly 3-2 in the group’s opening games.
In an interview on arrival at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola from Morocco yesterday, Lwandamina said everyone was disappointed with the result but was quick to add that it was the “name of the game”.
He said the team made a few mistakes both at the back and in front of goal which cost them the three points.
“It’s how the competition is. I know we are disappointed by not winning the second game, but the boys fought. We made a few mistakes that they capitalised on in the last third.
“And in the first third, we couldn’t use the opportunities that we created, but the game itself was worthwhile. I’m sure even the boys have picked up positives and negatives from the same game,” Lwandamina said.
He said the defeat had made the group tougher, though he admitted that it was always tough from the time the draws were made.
Lwandamina said the team would work on picking maximum points from the remaining games so that they qualify to the semi-finals of the tournament.
No Zambian team has qualified to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
“The group has been tough since the draws; it was never an easy group and it will remain the same. What is important is to rise up and pick maximum points so that we can remain or qualify to the semi-finals,” he said.
Zesco’s next game is a home fixture on July 16 against the group leaders ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, who beat bottom-placed Ahly 1-2 in Egypt.