MUTAPA TARGETS CONSISTENCY AS GREEN EAGLES FACE ZESCO

Green Eagles head coach Perry Mutapa says consistency will be key as his side seeks to maintain its winning momentum when it takes on ZESCO United in this afternoon’s Week Two MTN Super League Transitional League Stream B encounter.

The Choma-based side travels to Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola for the 15:00 hours kick-off, hoping to build on an impressive 4-1 away victory over Mufulira Wanderers in its opening match.

ZESCO United, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Kabwe Warriors and will be eager to secure their first win, particularly in front of their home supporters.

Mutapa expects a difficult encounter against a ZESCO side he describes as one of the country’s strong teams, despite their struggles last season.

He said Green Eagles must maintain the standards set in their opening match if they are to continue their positive start to the campaign.

“We would like to keep the momentum going. We are playing a team which has done well in the last decade. I think it is a strong team,” Mutapa said.

“Last season they did not do well, so this season they want to do well. It is going to be a very big game for us.”

The Green Eagles coach believes ZESCO’s opening draw will make the hosts more determined to collect maximum points, increasing the challenge for his side.

He said the Choma outfit also has its own ambitions after starting with a convincing victory away from home.

“It is going to be difficult, especially because they drew their first game. They would like to win their first game in front of their own supporters, but for us, I think we are also on a mission,” he said.

“After winning the last game away to Mufulira Wanderers, we do not want to lose. It is going to be a tough game, and the team that applies itself best will carry the day.”

Despite Green Eagles scoring four goals in their opener, Mutapa insists the priority against ZESCO is securing all three points rather than focusing solely on an attacking display.

He said his team respects its opponents but will not be intimidated by the occasion.

“The most important thing in this game is to collect maximum points, which is three points. Sometimes we want to score more goals, but we should know that we are playing a big team,” Mutapa said.

“We respect ZESCO, but of course we are not afraid. We want to do well against them.”

Mutapa added that the team had trained well ahead of the second consecutive away fixture and was not concerned about the distance involved in travelling to Ndola.

He said Green Eagles must continue building on last season’s progress and their positive opening result, with consistency remaining central to the club’s ambitions.

“This is a project. Last season we did very well. This season, after starting on a good note, we should just continue. It is about consistency,” he said.

Meanwhile, ZESCO United coach Mwenya Chipepo says collecting three points at home is crucial as his team seeks to respond to the opening-day draw.

Chipepo acknowledged that conceding early against Kabwe Warriors disrupted his side’s plans and said the players had learnt from the experience.

“When you concede early, it means whatever you planned is disturbed. We learnt a lesson and hopefully we do not repeat the same thing,” he said.

The coach has also appealed to ZESCO supporters to turn out in numbers for the club’s first home match of the transitional league, promising a determined performance after last season’s disappointing campaign.

“Last season we did not do well, and we have starved our supporters. They need something big. What I can tell them is that they should come in numbers to support the team, and I am sure we are not going to disappoint them,” Chipepo said.

With ZESCO seeking their first victory and Green Eagles aiming to preserve their winning start, the encounter presents both sides with an early opportunity to strengthen their position in Stream B.