Head coach of Zanaco Football Club Wedson Nyirenda has praised Konkola Blades for their strong home performance, which kept his team from scoring in Saturday’s scoreless draw at Konkola Stadium.
With 33 points from 25 games, Zanaco—who have drawn for the past two weeks—is ranked eighth in the Super League standings, while Konkola Blades are in 13th place with 30 points.
In a post-match interview, Nyirenda said it was a tough encounter for his side, who were playing away.
In the first encounter between the sides, Zanaco beat Konkola Blades 3-0 but failed to replicate the same form on Saturday, with Nyirenda stating that Beston Chambeshi’s side defended well to deny his side spaces.
“Just as we expected, a tough game. Konkola Blades gave us a run for our money. There has been good organization since the senior coach, Beston Chambeshi, came in,” he said.
“You could see the positioning of the players, and they kept the structure very well, so we could not see the inlets and outlets. It was a good game.”
The gaffer also rued his team’s missed chance that fell on returning striker Roger Kola, which could have given them a win in the closing stages.
Zanaco shift attention to Power Dynamos.
Kola replaced Malawian striker Chawanangwa Kaonga in the 75th minute to mark his return to Zanaco from Tanzanian side Azam Football Club.
He nearly scored in the 82nd minute, but Allan Chibwe was equal to the task of stopping the shot.
“We deserved to get a point [win] with that chance that we missed with Kola. That was the first game for him [Kola] after a long time, and we couldn’t ask for more from him in the minutes that we gave him. He is catching up on match fitness,” Nyirenda said.
READ ALSO: Red Arrows make huge step to win Zambian Super League.
Zanaco will now shift their attention to their next match against third-placed Power Dynamos, who equally drew 0-0 against Kabwe Warriors at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
