Chatama Speaks Ahead of League Opener Against Blue Eagles
Ahead of Ekhaya’s league opener on Sunday, Head Coach Enos Chatama addressed the media, touching on a number of key points.
Here are the gaffer’s words as Blue Eagles prepare to host The Cowboys at Civo Stadium.
On the season opener:
“As a team, we are well prepared for the league opener. We kick off our FDH Bank Premiership campaign away to Blue Eagles at Civo Stadium on Sunday, which will be quite a tough game. We only managed a point against them last season, so we know what to expect. This will be our fourth meeting since we first faced each other. We will be away from home, but we have to be ready.”
On preseason and squad update
“It has been a wonderful preseason. The only setback is that we do not have all the players readily available. The level of fitness are quite different, four to five players are not ready to start the campaign. Nonetheless, we will use the aalvailable resources on Sunday”
On Lungu’s absence
“Since we started preseason, Alick has not featured in any game. He is injured, but we believe that once he is fully fit, he will come back and help the team.”
On Sunday’s opponents
“They are always a tough team. They have changed a lot this season, and we have also changed, so it will be a different game altogether. They have the home ground advantage, so we need to tread carefully. We cannot afford to throw away points. In the end, the team that prepares better will carry the day.”
On team leadership this season
“The captain remains Andrew Lameck. We also have two vice-captains, Moses Banda and Clever Mkungula. We considered a lot of factors when making these decisions.”
On the significance of the league opener:
“Every team wants to win the first game of the season. Blue Eagles will be eager to win, and we are also anticipating a victory. Winning helps ease the pressure, so we have to fight for every inch of the pitch.”
On the fans
“Our fans always come in large numbers to support us. We are a project, and we ask them to trust the process. We have brought in new players who are still gelling, and improvement will come step by step. We need to improve from last season and move one or two steps forward.”
