In the 2026 ABSA Cup on 9th May, Power Dynamos will face Red Arrows FC. Power Dynamos silenced Mufulira Wanderers 2-1 via post-match penalties while Red Arrows defeated Chirundu United FC 2-0 in the other semifinal at Levy Mwanawasa stadium on Saturday.
Losing semifinalist coach, Mufulira Wanderers FC head coach Lameck Banda has paid tribute to his former coach and mentor Oswald Mutapa following his side’s elimination from the competition.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Banda described Mutapa, as a key figure in shaping his football career and philosophy.
Banda reflected on how Mutapa’s tactical decisions and belief in his versatility helped shape his understanding of the game.
“Today, (Saturday) I stepped onto the touchline… and across from me stood my mentor, Oswald Mutapa,” Banda wrote. “A man who coached me at two defining moments of my career, at Lusaka City Council in 2006 and Lusaka Dynamos in 2007.”
He acknowledged the influence of other coaches, including the late Boniface Simutowe and Fighton Simukonda, in shaping his approach to football.
Despite the admiration, Banda stressed that competition took precedence on match day.
“Respect remains. Always. But competition requires decisiveness. For 90 minutes, mentorship was set aside. What mattered was execution, courage, and the will to win,” he noted.
Banda admitted that his side fell short when it mattered most.
Banda said Wanderers would take lessons from the defeat as they regroup for future challenges.
“Even in defeat, there is progress. We walk away with lessons, pride in the fight, and clarity on what must improve. Then we go again next time,” he said.
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