WE HAVE TO SHOW WHY WE ARE CHAMPIONS – MUTAPA

Power Dynamos head coach Oswald Mutapa says the defending champions must demonstrate why they won the league when they open their MTN Super League campaign against Konkola Blades.

Mutapa said Power Dynamos are targeting a positive start despite expecting a difficult encounter away from home.

“We are champions, so we have to show why we are champions. Go out there. We won the league last time,” Mutapa said.

The Power Dynamos coach noted that the match will be played at a difficult venue, recalling that the club were confirmed as champions in Chililabombwe last season.

“Our last game that we were confirmed as champions was in Chililabombwe. It won’t be an easy game, a very difficult ground to go to, but I feel we should be able to get the result as we go there,” he said.

Mutapa said preparations had continued in his absence while he was away on national team duty, with the squad completing three training sessions.

“We have had three sessions. Whether I’m not there or I’m here, I think the most important thing is that the team is here. It’s only me that was out in terms of the technical bench, but the rest were around,” he said.

“The job didn’t sleep. Everyone was working.”

He added that decisions regarding players who were available for the club and those involved with the national team were made in the interest of the team.

Mutapa also urged Power Dynamos supporters to turn up in numbers and provide moral support.

“As always, we ask them to come in numbers to give the moral support to the team. Of course, we want to give them the result,” he said.

Meanwhile, Konkola Blades head coach Beston Chambeshi says his side is ready for the new season after a month of intensive preparations.

Chambeshi said the team had used a series of high-profile friendly matches to assess its readiness, with the players showing a strong working spirit.

“I think the team is ready for the coming season. We had high-profile friendly matches. We played against Power, Nkana Wanderers, Zesco and Nchanga. I think we had some wins and losses,” Chambeshi said.

He said the squad had remained largely intact and had developed the combination needed to compete.

“I think the team is intact and the combination is there. The working spirit they have shown us, I think we learned a lot from the games we played. I’m happy with what we went through and for sure we have a team which can stand any pressure,” he said.

Chambeshi welcomed the prospect of beginning the campaign against the defending champions, saying the fixture could give his players confidence.

“It’s good. We’re starting with a big team like Power and one good thing, we’re in the same league. It’s good for the players, even for our supporters to come in numbers and watch this game,” he said.

He said Konkola Blades would not make premature promises about their final league position but would target an improvement on last season’s ninth-place finish.

“We are all aiming at finishing the league on a good note. As you said, we finished ninth, so we have to go a step further now,” Chambeshi said.

He added that a strong finish could also secure the club a place in the Absa Cup.

“It will be good for us to finish on a good note so we can play the ABSA Cup,” he said.

Chambeshi also appealed to supporters, particularly those on the Copperbelt, to continue believing in the team.

“Let them believe in this team. Let them have confidence in this team,” he said.