Green Buffaloes head coach Aggrey Chiyangi began his tenure on a winning note after guiding the Zambia Army-sponsored side to a 2-1 triumph over Nkwazi Football Club in a Zambia Premier League season opener at Edwin Imboela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The result was particularly symbolic for Chiyangi, as it came against his former employers, Nkwazi, in what proved to be a hard-fought contest.
Speaking after the match, the seasoned tactician praised his opponents for their spirited display but credited his side’s ability to capitalize on their chances.
“I’m very impressed with the way Nkwazi has played. They showed a lot of fighting spirit and team spirit, which is good. It’s only that we took our chances, and that’s how we won the game,” Chiyangi said.
The coach emphasized that his priority is to build a strong and competitive team worthy of Buffaloes’ rich tradition in Zambian football.
“What we have to do is try to build a very strong team because I think Buffaloes is not a small team; it’s a big team. It’s a team that has got history in Zambian football. So we just have to make sure that we try by all means to strengthen the team so that the team can compete effectively,” he added.
“Focus On The Top Four” – Chiyangi.
Looking ahead, Chiyangi acknowledged the challenges of the league campaign, stressing the importance of consistency and gradual improvement.
“It will be another tough game, even though we’ll be playing at the same ground. The advantage is that at least we have played one league game. The first games are very important and very tough because of the pressure they bring. But so far this is good because it has brought a lot of confidence to the players,” he noted.
While refusing to make bold predictions about the title race, Chiyangi revealed his ambition to see Buffaloes finish among the top four teams.
“My expectation is we have to plan to achieve the best that we can do. Yes, we are not looking at anything, but we have to focus on the top four. Because I cannot talk about the league now. It’s too early. We talk about the league when there are about five games remaining. But so far we are trying to do our best,” he said.
Chiyangi further praised the players’ willingness to adapt to his philosophy, describing their response as “positive” despite the ongoing adjustments.
“It’s not about convincing; it’s about looking at what we’ve done and also what we need to work on. I think so far I’m happy with the response, and even though we are still pushing them to try and adapt to how we want to play, otherwise the response is positive,” he concluded.
READ ALSO: “We’re Happy” – Chipepo Reacts To Nkana’s Away Draw At FC Leopards.
