Interim Zanaco head coach Dabid Chilufya has revealed that one of the motivations behind his side’s vital 1-0 victory over Nkana yesterday was his displeasure with counterpart Mwenya Chipepo’s comments heading into the encounter.
Prior to Wednesday’s encounter, Chipepo had backed his side to go on and extend their four-match winning streak against the relegation-chasing bankers, but this did not sit too well with his opposite.
Speaking after his side’s important victory, Chilufya said he was pleased with Wednesday’s result having, gone into the encounter determined to edge Chipepo and end the 13-time league champions’ winning streak.
“Nkana have been winning games, they won four games consecutively, and you heard the interviews of their coach and it pained me because he didn’t speak well [before the game] and he thought Zanaco is a small team,” Chilufya said.
Chilufya further clarified that he had no personal grudges against Chipepo but was not pleased with his opposite’s comments, which gave him more determination to secure a victory in the Week 13 fixture.
“He is my young brother but the way he spoke was not so well and I just decided that I should just beat them no matter what,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chilufya says the win over Nkana was a major turning point and source of motivation for his side heading into the upcoming fixtures after ending its 11-match winless run.
“This win is very important and has given confidence to the players even as we go to Choma and I told them before the game that a win will give them impetus to go and play well in the next matches,” he said.
Zanaco moved one place into 15th position on the table with 13 points after yesterday’s win and will next face Green Eagles away in Choma on Sunday.