Morrocans Must Fall, Zesco Ordered

24 May 2011

AFTER bowing out of the 2011 Orange CAF Champions League, Zesco United have vowed to redeem themselves in the Confederation Cup where they face-off Moroccan side, Maghreb Association Sportive (MAS) in the first leg of the round of 16 this weekend in Ndola.

Club secretary, Justin Mumba said as Zambian envoys, Zesco should have no option but knock-out MAS and qualify for the group stage of Africa’s second club competition tier.

Mumba said in Ndola yesterday that the onus was on the Zambian champions to take the competition seriously and up their game when they play the North Africans.

Having played six-time African champions, Al Ahly of Egypt in the Champions League and learning a few lessons, he said Zesco should not have difficulties against MAS as North Africans played similar games.

The Zesco club spokesperson said the two local league games against Zanaco and Lime Hotspurs had helped the team in preparing for the continental competition and would just be fine-tuning.

Mumba also said top striker Alfred Luputa, who tore a hamstring last month against Ahly, would not be available for the first leg match against MAS.

And with his squad leaking three goals in the last two league games, coach Fighton Simukonda expressed worry with his backline but was optimistic of sealing up the loopholes before Saturday.

Simukonda conceded that his technical bench needed to do more to ensure the squad was ready for the MAS encounter.

“We start getting worried that we are making blunders at the back. We just need to psyche our players before we play the Moroccans,” he said.

The former Zambia trainer and defender said he was hopeful Zesco would do better against MAS this weekend at Trade Fair Grounds before heading to the Morocco city of Fez for the return leg in a fortnight.

Last Wednesday, Zesco, who dropped to the Confederation Cup after falling 0-1 to Ahly over two legs, lost 1-2 to local arch rivals, Zanaco but managed to beat town rivals Lime Hotspurs on Sunday with a similar scoreline.

MAS coach, Racheed Taoussi, whose charges knocked out Sudanese side, El Khartoum to reach the Confederation Cup round of 16, was full of praise for his charges whom he said was the best in Morocco and wanted them to have a say in the continental competition.

Taoussi told CAFonline that MAS had their best squad in the last 20 years and were hopeful of reaching the group stage.

The return leg is set for the weekend of June 10 -12 with the winner over two matches advancing to the mini-league series.

AllAfrica – All the Time