By FELIX MALUNGA
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AFTER a stuttering pre-season build up, Zambia’s 2014 CAF Confederation Cup envoys, Zesco United yesterday set off to Mongu for a retreat aimed at rebuilding the team spirit ahead of the continental skirmishes.
Zesco general secretary, Justin Mumba said the retreat in Western Province would help to bring unity which was identified as one of the missing links in the squad.
Mumba said in Solwezi yesterday that the training camp would also help in building team spirit and togetherness before Zesco embark on the Confederation Cup campaign this monthend.
He said the week-long training camp would enable Tenant Chembo’s technical bench to perfect their tactics and chart the way forward for the team.
“The team has left for a retreat in Mongu to reflect on some many issues. As Zesco, we need to rebuild the team spirit and togetherness.
We want to bring back unity in the team which was one of the missing links in the team between new and old players,” Mumba said.
While in Mongu, the Zesco chief said, the team would play some training matches with local teams before returning to Ndola to fine tune for the continental push.
He said plans were underway to organise one more high-profile friendly match before embarking on the continental journey.
Zesco, who are on bye in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup, sent two officials to watch yesterday’s fixture in Dar-es-Salaam between Tanzania’s Azam and Ferroviario Da Beir of Mozambique.
For the return leg, some technical officials will travel to Pemba in Mozambique to watch the match.
The winner of this tie will face Zesco in the first round. Zesco, who lost five consecutive high-profile pre-season friendly matches, is scheduled to play away in the first leg.