By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE – 

NKANA has received a major boost ahead of their weekend 2014 CAF Confederations Cup knock out round first leg home tie against Club Athletique Bizertin following the return of seven players to full training.

Team captain Sidney Kalume and Claude Bwalya who were out due to sickness are back together with Joseph Milanzi who recovered from a knee injury.

The defence has seen the return of Christopher Munthali, Masausto Zimba, Noel Phiri and goalkeeper Makasa Mufwaya in the team after recovering from sickness. 

Coach Masausto Mwale, who confirmed the development in an interview after yesterday’s afternoon training session in Kitwe, said the players were shaping up well. 

He expressed happiness to have the seven players back in training adding that it was a major boost to the Zambian champions ahead of the Bizertin clash. 

Mwale, however, said the duo of Bruce Musakanya and Frank Chibuye, who had been nursing various injuries, would not play a part in this Saturday’s game while striker Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba, who played the last league match with an hamstring injury, was still battling to be fully fit. 

“We are very happy to have seven of our players who were out due to injury and sickness back in training. This is good news to our team and a morale booster in camp as we prepare for Saturday’s game because we have the depth needed,” he said. 

He said the team medics would continue to monitor the players’ fitness levels before the weekend game. 

Meanwhile, Bizertin are expected to arrive in the country this afternoon.