A clean sheet for Power Dynamos against African Stars of Namibia, according to Chipolopolo and TP Mazembe legend Rainford Kalaba, will be essential in defining their Champions League journey.
Following their defeat to African Stars of Namibia in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round, the defending champions of the Zambian Super League Power Dynamos will be in desperate need of overturning a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.
Edmund Kambanda’s 62nd-minute strike ensured the hosts won after an intriguing first half that saw both teams score one goal apiece through Andy Boyeli and Patrick Stephanus.
With the second leg set for Saturday at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Kalaba has predicted an outright, yet narrow, victory for Aba Yellow.
“The team has the capacity to win the game. They just need to keep a clean sheet and maybe win 1-0,” he said in an interview with BolaNews.
Kalaba defends Lawrence Mulenga
The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champion was quick to defend Power Dynamos goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga, who has gone six games without recording a clean sheet for both club and country.
“He just had a bad game last week; otherwise, he is a very good goalkeeper,” Kalaba stated. “The key is not to concede.”
The goalkeeper has come under fire from a section of fans for allowing “preventable goals.”
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Power Dynamos will also need to improve their attacking force, with Mwenya Chipepo admitting that his team’s attack has been wasteful in the first leg.
“I feel we created a lot of chances but could not convert them,” said Chipepo.
Meanwhile, FC MUZA, who are also representing Zambia in the CAF Confederations Cup, will face Coton Sport of Equatorial Guinea at the National Heroes Stadium. They drew 1-1 in the first leg and will look to win to advance to the next round.
A nil-nil draw will be enough for the Elegant Dynamites, who are making their debut in the competition.
