ZESCO United coach Emmanuel Siwale says his side is fully focused and ready to overcome Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy as they aim to take an early advantage in their quest to secure a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
The match, to be played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, will be the first leg of the second preliminary round phase of the competition.
Siwale told reporters during the pre-match press conference in Ndola on Friday that are ready for the tie.
He said the team aims to help Zambia regain the four slots in CAF competitions.
“The players are aware of that, but we can only get the four slots that you are talking about if we cross this hurdle. And this hurdle is the game that we are playing tomorrow,” Siwale said. “We just have to make sure we do the very best so that we get a positive result which will take us to where you want us to be.”
Siwale described the game as a national assignment.
“This is a national issue, so to speak. We are not just playing as ZESCO, we are representing the country. That’s why I had to make that appeal to all the Zambians, even other supporters or fans, to come in large numbers because we need them more than ever before,” he said.
And ZESCO captain Lindo Mkhonta echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“I think I can say that our target as players we really want to reach the group stages, and we know very well that for us to reach the group stages, we have to pass this hurdle. As players, we are ready for this game, and I can just urge the whole nation to come in their numbers to watch the game tomorrow to support us.
“We are going to do our best. We know what it means to play this game and we know what is supposed to be done in this game,” Mkhonta said.
Meanwhile, Jwaneng Galaxy coach Sean Connor said his team is ready to compete.
“We are very aware that the task is a much heavier one. The rewards at the end of it are also big. We are delighted to be here, but we have come here to compete. We have our own vision of where we want to be as a football club.
“We are looking forward to the challenge, but we understand that it is going to be very, very difficult. We are playing against probably one of the most historic teams in Zambia,” said Connor.
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