Zambia MTN Super League: Lusaka braces for Mutapa brothers’ showdown

Power Dynamos FC coach Osward Mutapa has played down Wednesday’s MTN Super League game against Green Eagles FC in the top-flight league of Zambia.

The game scheduled for Arthur Davies Stadium in Lusaka has been dubbed a brothers’ derby. Perry Mutapa, Osward’s younger brother, is the Eagles’ trainer.

However, the Power Dynamos mentor insisted that his focus is on collecting maximum points in the Super League clash, and not about family ties.

“I have heard this so many times. This is a game just like any other. It is all about our application against Perry’s team,” Osward told Dynamos’ media.

The game against the ninth-placed Eagles presents Power Dynamos a chance to go top. But Osward said his team was not chasing the top spot.

“For me, it is about Power Dynamos. We have started the second round on a good note, and it is important that we show consistency in terms of results and performance,” he said.

“We don’t have to look at the table. We just have to do the job and get the points. As to whatever it takes us, so let it be.”

Power Dynamos balancing act

Osward admitted that his side needs a lot of balancing to manage demands of competing at home and in the CAF Champions League.

“We knew about the fixture congestion and we said we will be rotating the squad,” the coach added.

Power Dynamos will return to CAF Champions League action to host Rivers United on January 24 before traveling to Nigeria for the reverse group-stage fixture. Further meetings with Morocco’s Berkane FC and Pyramids FC of Egypt will follow in the first week of February.

The CAFCL group stage debutants Power Dynamos made a shaky start to the continental assignments. The Zambians lost 3-0 to hosts RS Berkane in Morocco on November 22.

Seven days later, the going became even tougher for Osward Mutapa’s side as they lost 1-0 to the reigning CAF Champions League winners, Pyramids FC. The back-to-back defeats left the Zambian champions bottom of Group A.

Now, Power Dynamos are making the most of the break from the continental matches to consolidate their place in the local MTN Super League assignments.