On Monday, MTN Super League side, Zanaco F.C. announced the appointment of Wedson Nyirenda as their new head coach until the end of the season.
The 56-year-old replaced Kelvin Kaindu and Nigerian consultant coach Emmanuel Amunike who were both sacked after a string of poor results.
Zanaco are winless in their last eight games, losing five and drawing three times to rank 13th in the league standings with 34 points.
The Bankers are one place above the relegation zone. And Nyirenda has a task to save the seven-time Zambian champions from relegation.
Speaking during his first press conference at Zanaco on Tuesday, Nyirenda ruled out the Bankers from winning the league. He said, his objective is to avoid relegation.
“Winning the title, I think this year is out….. Our objective is to stabilise the team and bring them back to a respectable position,” he said.
“You can not go eight games as a big team without a win”- Nyirenda
Nyirenda attributed the team’s poor performance this season to a lack of motivation and belief in the team.
“First it’s to give back the confidence to the players, and the players are lacking confidence, it is natural, you can not go eight games as a big team without winning, you find that the confidence is at the lowest.
“We need to encourage every player to come on board in training…. Try to motivate everyone, and make them feel their sense of belonging…. Then only shall we have the players having that will power to play. It’s a very difficult time that we are in; we may lose it or gain it,” he explained.
Nyirenda also insisted that he will work with the players at his available to save the team from relegation.
“Whether there is no good player or these, my hands are tied,” he said. “What I have is what I will use… I think what I have found is a group of players who need to be motivated to do their work.”
Nyirenda returns to the Zambian League after a two-year absence in which he helped Lusaka Dynamos win the ABSA Cup.
Its his second stint at Zanaco, having coached the them from 2009 to 2011
Nyirenda will take charge of Zanaco in their clash with his former club Zesco United on Saturday.
