Power Dynamos coach Osward Mutapa has described Saturday’s CAF Champions League tie against Moroccan side RS Berkane as the most important game of the year for the Super League champions.
Power, who started the group stage on a slow note, losing their first two games, have picked up momentum and are on a run of two unbeaten games. A win at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium will firmly put them into contention for a place in the round of eight.
Mutapa has told reporters at the pre-match press conference that this is the club’s biggest fixture since the turn of the calendar.
“It is the most important game this year,” he said, noting that his side needs to pick maximum points against the reigning Confederation Cup champions, who are coming from a 3–0 defeat at the hands of group leaders FC Pyramids.
Power have four points, three behind Berkane, while Pyramids lead the pile with 10 points. Nigerian side Rivers United are bottom with one point and are not in contention for progression to the quarter-finals.
“We need to get maximum points; we know it is going to be difficult, playing with the Confederation Cup champions, but this is football; we have to believe in ourselves,” he said.
Power high on confidence- Mutapa
Power heads into this game on the back of a 1–0 away win to Rivers and is hoping that they can keep the momentum against a side that beat the 3 – 0 in the first leg.
“Just like you have alluded to, even when no one gave us a chance that we can get maximum points, we did that, so our aim is to push for maximum points,” he said.
And skipper Prince Mumba echoed his coach’s remarks. “After the win in Nigeria, it has been a very big booster to the team I can see the confidence in each one of us, it has given us a very good momentum against Berkane tomorrow [Saturday]. It is a game that we will try to use of our chances as early as possible to make them uncomfortable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Berkane coach Mouin Chaabani anticipates a tough challenge from Power.
“We have a total chance to qualify but it is not going to be easy,” Chaabani said via a translator.
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