PHIRI URGES MUTAPA TO CHANGE POWER’S ATTACKING APPROACH

Football coach Nebert Phiri has urged Power Dynamos head coach Oswald Mutapa to make tactical changes ahead of the second leg of the CAF Champions League first preliminary round against Sudanese side Al Merrikh.

Power Dynamos suffered a 1-0 defeat to Al Merrikh in the first leg on Saturday, leaving the Zambian champions needing to overturn the deficit in the return leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Phiri believes Mutapa faces a demanding period, with the coach having to balance responsibilities at club and national-team level.

According to Phiri, Mutapa currently has three major responsibilities: preparing Power Dynamos for their CAF Champions League campaign, preparing the team for the transitional league, which he described as a dangerous period, and serving as an assistant coach for the Chipolopolo.

Phiri questioned the demands placed on Mutapa as he balances his national-team responsibilities with his club duties.

He also believes Power Dynamos need greater variation in attack, particularly from their attacking midfielders.

“His attacking midfielders have to be changed. They were attacking the same way. Nothing different,” Phiri said.

“Every attack was the same. No change in ball movement.”

Phiri’s comments come with Power Dynamos facing a crucial second leg at home, where they will need to score while preventing Al Merrikh from extending their advantage.

The Zambian champions will therefore have to find greater attacking variety if they are to overturn the 1-0 deficit and keep their CAF Champions League campaign alive.