. POWER Dynamos players led by FAZ delegation leader Lenny Nkhuwa (centre) and club chairperson Benny Simukoko (second left) yesterday morning took time to visit the crash site where the national soccer team perished in 1993 in Libreville, Gabon. Above the Power delegation laying wreaths at the crash site on banks of Atlantic Ocean. Picture by POWER DYNAMOS FANS FORUM
By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA –
POWER Dynamos this afternoon seek a vital away result on their debut visit to Gabon when they face CF Mounana in a 2015 CAF Confederation Cup first round, first leg match in Libreville.
Tennant Chilumba’s side return to continental action in a 16:30 hours Zambian time kick off which comes just a week after suffering a setback in the run-up to playing Mounana.
Power lost 3-1 to Zesco United in the 2015 Charity Shield final on March 7, just seven days after beating Sudanese club Al Khartoum 2-nil to secure their first round passage to the Confederation Cup with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Captain Thomas Nyirenda said despite that loss, Power are firmly focused on getting a good result on the road today.
“We have prepared enough even though we lost to Zesco United. That was a lesson to us and that made us prepare adequately for this game.
“We also have a lot of confidence from that last round game against Al Khartoum. We can come away with a positive result if not we are going to get a draw which will still be a good result for us and will plan for them as we plan for the home game,” Nyirenda said.
Power have no injury problems heading into the game following the recovery of defender’s Derrick Mwansa from illness and Christopher Munthali from injury.
The duo missed Power’s loss to Zesco together with striker Jimmy Ndhlovu who also recovered from injury in time for the trip to Libreville.
But most importantly, Power will be banking on their key striker Alex Ngonga who has already scored two goals in the competition.
Meanwhile, despite Power’s vast continental experience, Gabon is unknown territory for them.
The match is overall not a test for Power but the hosts’ who were formed in 2006.
Power will prove to be Mounana biggest test in the Confederation Cup after the latter disposed of minnows Polisi 5-0 at home and 3-1 away in Zanzibar where they are currently 11th on the Indian Ocean Island’s league table.
Notable players in Mounana’s lineup are Gabon’s veteran number two goalkeeper Stephan Bitseki who was an unused player at the 2015 Africa Cup in Equatorial Guinea.
However, the biggest threat with come from their much-travelled left-back Georges Ambourouet who has scored four goals so far in this seasons Confederation Cup following his recent return from Europe where he had various stints in Albania.
Power and Mounana will meet in the final leg decider on April 4 at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Overall winner will face victor of the first round tie between Orlando Pirates of South Africa and Uganda club URA who clashed in Johannesburg last night in a 17:00 hour’s kickoff.
