– Target 9 points in 3 remaining Group D matches, Power told to up game
NDINAWE SIMPELWE
Ndola
GAFFER Mathews Ndhlovu says Zesco United have no option but to finish stronger in the Confederation Cup after losing three games in a row, while Power Dynamos chief executive officer Gibson Chaloba has implored his players to up their game in the CAF Champions League group stage.
Ndhlovu said after losing 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Sunday that the situation has become a challenge and Zesco have to win the remaining three matches.
Zesco, who are away to Chiefs on Sunday, will host Egyptian side Zamalek on February 8 and complete the Group D business with an away trip to Al Masry, also of Egypt.
“We just need to fight to the end. We just have to come up with at least some positive results. This is the groupstage football. We just have to work on areas of concern. The performance will determine how many points we can get. With the three remaining games, we are talking about maximum nine points,” Ndhlovu said.
Zesco lost 1-0 away to Zamalek and 3-2 to Al Masry in Ndola.
Zamalek and Al Masry drew 0-0 on Sunday evening, which left the group open with the latter topping with seven points, followed by the former with five while Chiefs have four points.
Ndhlovu said Zesco have quality to beat any team and were unfortunate in the three matches.
“We will see how we plan over the remaining three games.
We shouldn’t give up because we still have a chance to see how far we can go. It is good for us, the exposure and our way of overcoming the challenges we have faced in the past three games,” he said.
He also admitted that confidence was lacking in some players, which opponents have taken advantage of.
“There was a bit of lack of confidence in certain players.
The material that is there is capable of delivering good results. It is a matter of mental strength and coming back from being down. We will work on that one,” Ndhlovu said….
