CAFCC: Mutapa outlines Power Dynamos’ mission against Berkane

Zambia’s Power Dynamos FC coach Osward Mutapa has detailed his team’s specific mission for the CAF Champions’ League group stage game against RS Berkane on Saturday in Morocco.

The MTN Super League champions have come a long way to reach the group stages of continental premier competition. The Kitwe-based giants overcame high-profile opposition in Vipers SC from Uganda and ASEC Mimosa of Ivory Coast.

While the results against Vipers and Mimosa have certainly increased Dynamos players’ sense of self-belief, Mutapa is not the one to live in the past.

Ahead of Saturday’s duel against the former CAF Confederation Cup kings, the former Zambia under-17 mentor has urged his side not to dwell too much on the past.

“There is motivation, yes, when you are talking about the results that we recorded [against Vipers and Mimosa], but those results are water under the bridge. This is a different ball game. We are going away to Morocco and we need to apply ourselves,” he said.

Dynamos have a tight schedule in Group A

Dynamos have travelled to Rabat with a near full-strength side, with the exception of two players, according to the coach.

“We have nearly all the players apart from Samuel Bamidele and Ishmael Ankobo who are not part of the travelling squad, but I still feel we have enough human resource to do the job,” the coach said.

“We have had so many games meaning that it is so stressful in terms of the bodies, but we have given them [the players] a rest. We have had two days of preparation and the game against our rivals was in our minds so we started preparations as we were playing those games.”

Berkane hardly loses at home and they have a strong record playing in Africa, but Mutapa is not overly concerned about the Botola giants’ form or past record.

“It was the same with Vipers who had not lost for quite a long time in 10 previous games at home but we made a result there. Football is what you put in and how much more you want it. We are a team that is on a mission to try and get a result,” the former Chipolopolo player added.

The Zambian champions have a tight schedule in Group A as they face holders Pyramids FC of Egypt on November 29 in Ndola before taking a breather from the continental assignments. Dynamos’ next group stage game is against Rivers United of Nigeria in January.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.