Power Dynamos coach Mwenya Chipepo says the weather in South Africa is partly to blame for his team’s 2-1 loss to African Stars of Namibia in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round yesterday.
Dynamos returned to interclub competition after 11 years, facing African Stars in the first leg encounter played in Johannesburg, South Africa, due to a lack of a CAF-approved stadium in Namibia.
The stakes were high for the defending Zambian champions, but it was the hosts who struck first, with Willy Stephanus scoring in the 27th minute before Andy Boyeli leveled for Aba Yellow just before halftime.
African Stars then regained the lead, with Edmund Kambanda scoring the second goal to end the match 2-1.
Chipepo, however, believes the tie is not over yet, especially since his team scored an important away goal.
When asked about the weather, he said it affected his team.
“Yeah, it affected us, especially in the first half. We are not used to this kind of weather in South Africa, but back home, we know how the conditions are, and we will do much better,” he said.
With the temperature in South Africa reaching 10 degrees Celsius during the game, Chipepo also lamented his team’s lack of clinicalness in front of the goal.
“I feel like we created a lot of chances but could not convert them.”
Chipepo is confident of a comeback at home
The Power Dynamos trainer is confident his side will win the return leg.
“Before the game, we did not know much about the team (the African Stars), but now that we do, I think we stand a better chance to win. As the technical bench, we shall sit down to analyze the game and work on our mistakes.”
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Meanwhile, his counterpart, Prince George Koffie, believes his team has a chance to win the second leg.
“They will have a lot of pressure back at home to score first, but our game plan will be to prevent them from scoring and, of course, win the game,” said Koffie.
The return fixture will be next weekend, on August 26, at the Levy Mwanawansa Stadium in Ndola.
