…as Atletico Lusaka, FC Muza qualify
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
AFTER clinching qualification for Zambia’s only cup competition, Kabwe Warriors coach Mumamba Numba says the club’s new target is to compete and win the lucrative trophy.
Warriors and Atletico Lusaka qualified for the 2024 Absa Cup after finishing the first round of the FAZ Super League and the National Division one sixth and second respectively.
Warriors secured their Absa Cup slot after a goalless draw against FC Muza in a tightly contested Week-17 fixture played at a waterlogged Godfrey Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe.
Warriors needed a point to qualify ahead of Green Eagles who were stunned 1-0 by High Flying Nkwazi FC on Saturday.
Speaking after the intriguing match characterised with heavy rains and a waterlogged pitch, Numba, who expressed disappointment with the referees for denying Warriors a goal in the second half said he was happy that they were able to achieve their first-round target of qualifying for the Absa Cup.
Numba is confident that Warriors have the needed material to win their maiden Absa Cup after qualifying.
“We are competing to win the championship. We have the material that can do that. We just have to get down to work and make sure that the team is ready for the challenge ahead of us,” Numba said.
“Expect a different Kabwe Warriors in the second round and as we compete in the Absa Cup. All we wanted was to qualify so that we can go there and compete. For the rest of the games, we now have to give ourselves another objective so that we can see how we go about the league,” he said.
Numba noted the need for Warriors to be clinical upfront to be able to do well in the second round of the league.
Warriors and Muza join Zesco United, Nkwazi, Red Arrows and Power Dynamos who complete the top six in the Super League while defending champions Forest Rangers missed a chance to defend their trophy after finishing the first round ninth with 23 points after a goalless draw against Kansanshi Dynamos in a Week-17 fixture played yesterday at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
Meanwhile, Atletico Lusaka finished the first round of the national division one league on second position and qualified for the Absa Cup after beating Malaiti Rangers 3-0 yesterday.
Atletico Lusaka joined Nchanga Rangers who top the national division one league to complete the eight teams set to compete in the Absa Cup scheduled for March 2024.
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