Sports Analyst Aaron Mubanga has attributed the poor performance of Zambian clubs that include Kitwe’s Nkana and Lusaka’s Napsa Stars in continental football to psychological unpreparedness that has resulted in most players going into the games with a defeated mindset.
Mubanga said most of the times, Zambian clubs go into these Continental games with a defeated mindset, you hear them making statements such as playing at this time of the day, will give an advantage to a particular team which is a bad thing.
Zambian glamour side Nkana suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Moroccan side Raja Casablanca in a Group D CAF Confederations Cup match tie played at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Wednesday night. In the first group stage match, Nkana lost 3-0 to Egypt’s Pyramids in an away game
And NAPSA Stars gave way a healthy 2-0 lead draw 2-2 at home against visiting Algerian side JS Kabylie in a CAF Confederations Cup second round stage match played at Lusaka’s Hero’s Stadium. In the first match, NAPSA Stars suffered a 2-0 loss against CAF defending champions, RS Berkane.
“I think the problem is the mental aspect, I think most of the times our clubs go into the game defeated already, you hear them making statements that playing at this time of the day, will give an advantage to a particular team,” he said.
Mubanga said It is the psychological issue that Zambians clubs have, most of them have already told their mind that that they cannot beat an Arab team. And at times, it is us failing to close the games and sometimes it is inadequate preparation going into continental football.
He said It is a matter of working on the small of the aspect of the game that is costing Zambian clubs, there is a lot of talent, that is undisputed.
Mubanga said for NAPSA Stars, they were supposed to win the game, they were leading 2-0, in 86 minute they conceded so as in the 90th minute and this was due to lack of concentration and the technical bench not working towards sealing the game early enough.
For Nkana, it is even remarkable that they have reached this far, given the amount of problems they are going through, the club is in a rebuilding phase and played a very good Raja Casablanca side with a number of good established players compared to Nkana
“In continental football, if a team was to go far, that team must be able to win home games, but unfortunately Nkana lost because they faced a very good side, they are in a rebuilding phase and we should not expect much from them. For NAPSA Stars, the group they are in, is a group they can easily get out from, for now, they need to force one away win,” he said.
Mubanga added that nothing is lost yet for both teams, but for Nkana it will be tough as they have lost their first two games. They however stand a chance if they work on the small mistakes they made in the home game, they would have carried the day and be in a very good place right now.
