NKWAZI FC coach Osward Mutapa says the Zambia Police-sponsored Super League outfit still has potential to survive relegation despite languishing on 17th position on the Super League table with 18 points collected from three wins nine draws and seven defeats.
Mutapa said he was not under pressure in his quest to rescue Nkwazi after the latest home loss to Napsa Stars drilled by his young brother Perry Mutapa.
Napsa stunned Nkwazi 1-0 in a Week-19 FAZ Super League fixture played on Sunday at the Edwin Imboela Stadium thanks to Frederick Mwimanzi’s second half strike.
Mutapa said it was still possible for Nkwazi to survive relegation because there are still many games left in the second round of the Super League.
“Nkwazi has done this before. Second from bottom and we went on to finish eighth. And if you look at the points, the sixth has maybe 30 points and the difference is maybe three games so it is possible for us to survive,” Mutapa said.
“Pressure is part of the game and why should I feel pressure? Do I look like someone who is under pressure? No, I think you are able to tell that I don’t look like being under pressure,” he said.
Asked how painful it felt losing to his young brother, Mutapa said “I feel… painful? No… a game of football has three results, you either win, lose or draw and it is part of the game so there is nothing special about playing my younger brother. We have played games before during our playing days and we have played each other as coaches so it is just like any other game. Yes we have lost but that’s football.”
Mutapa said Nkwazi needs to have the desire to play because football is not just kicking the ball.
“We need to play the game. Against Napsa Stars we played well and created chances but you know football just don’t focus on one area. You have to defend and attack,” he said.
On beefing up the squad during the January transfer window, Mutapa said “the team that is there you will agree with me that last season in the first round, the team was second, so we just need to have that confidence to say we are the same team.
But football whether you win the championship today you still need to beef up. Familiarity doesn’t help so if good players come around yes we will definitely get them but players are now tied to teams this being the second round.”
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