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KEAGAN Mumba says Zanaco’s failure to win home matches may cost the defending champions the FAZ/MTN league title.
Speaking after watching his side got a 4-0 home bashing against Green Buffaloes on Sunday, Mumba wondered why Sunset Stadium was no longer a fortress for the bankers where they always picked maximum points.
He said it would be difficult to defend the title if the home form did not improve soon.
“We couldn’t stand the pressure. Buffaloes played very well and they deserved to win. Our home form has not been the best this season. To win the title you have to win home matches,” Mumba said. “We are
playing very well away from home, I don’t know why the players are under pressure when they are playing at home. We don’t want to make excuses, we just have to improve our results.”
Zanaco who were playing a third match in seven days have already lost two home matches in the FAZ/MTN league and also lost to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions’ League.
Mumba however said he lost two goalkeepers prior to the Buffaloes game when first choice Racha Kola was sidelined with a swollen face while second choice Allan Chibwe also sustained a swollen hand in training.
Mumba had to rely on reserve goalkeeper Kennedy Mumba for the local derby but he was also shown a red card for a foul on Allan Mukuka few minutes before halftime when the score was already 3-0.
Zone 6 under 20 goalkeeper Mangani Banda was brought in as the champions failed to rescue the match.
Meanwhile Buffaloes coach Patrick Phiri was full of praise for his player’s who put in the team’s best performance of the season so far.
Phiri said the win against the champions was a big morale booster and could signal better things to come at the club.
“This will boost the confidence of the team especially that we did not start very well this season. Going forward we hope for the best,” Phiri said.
He said he planned very well for the match after watching Zanaco beat Forest Rangers 3-1 on Thursday.
“We watched two days ago (Thursday) and we knew it was going to be difficult for them to change their tactics in two days time. So we planned very well for this match and we are glad it worked out very well,” he said.
A Mungaile Chipili brace coupled with a Lineker Mwikisa header and a Ken Chola penalty was enough to hand the bankers the heaviest defeat of the season so far.
The defeat leaves Zanaco lying eighth on the league table with seven points five behind log leaders Nkana while Buffaloes now has nine points after week five.
