We’ll bounce back, vow ZESCO

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:40:27 +0000

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA

 ZESCO United coach Zlatko Krmpotic says his side still has a chance to grab a CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final slot.

The Zambian side dropped to third place in Group C with six points after they lost 3-0 to a resilient Recreativo do Libolo on Tuesday in Angola.

Krmpotic confessed that the Angolans did put pressure on Zesco and fought to the end. He said his objective was to win the game.

“It was a tough game, we tried to play good here and there but could not score. It’s the game of football, you win, draw or lose some but that doesn’t rule us from qualifying to the quarter-finals,” he said.

He said the team will pick lessons from the match and strategize for the next game.

Krmpotic said the last two games were a must win, therefore Zesco has to be well prepared for the challenge. “We have learnt something from this game and those asking if the team were under-pressure, yes they were, every game brings in its own pressure. We will now start to plan ahead,” he said.

Meanwhile, Libolo coach Vaz Pinto was happy the team had moved up on the table.

Pinto commended his boys for taming Zesco in all departments.

“We were at the bottom but with this three points we are back on track. The boys put up a good fight and now we just have to remain focused,” he said.

Libolo is second with six points, better than Zesco on go difference.

And Al Hilal Al Ubayyid of Sudan beat Egyptian side Smouha SC 2 – 1 on Tuesday night to lead the group on seven points. Smouha are now bottom with four points.

Zesco will play Smouha on June 30 away before hosting Al Hilal in their final group game on July 9 in Ndola