ZESCO United head coach Mathews Ndhlovu has remained defiant despite his side’s 1-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup clash.
The Zambian giants, who had also lost the reverse fixture in Lusaka a week earlier, remain rooted to the bottom of their group with zero points after suffering four consecutive defeats.
Kaizer Chiefs started brightly and, as in the first meeting, took the initiative early on through Glodly Lilepo. ZESCO, however, were left to rue a series of missed chances in front of goal, moments Ndhlovu believes proved decisive.
“I think we had approached the game very well, but I think football is about moments when you utilise moments especially scoring. We came back to the party when we scored by Kaizer Chiefs and I think we need to work on those runs, congratulations to Kaizer Chiefs,” Ndhlovu told SABC Sport after the game.
“But I think our team also we need to build from there, this is football, it’s not the end, we will come back strong as we work on those areas of concern,” he added.
Despite the disappointing result, Ndhlovu insists ZESCO are far from finished in the competition.
“This is football. It’s not the end,” he added. “We will come back stronger as we continue to work on the areas of concern.”
Ndhlovu is overseeing ZESCO’s Confederation Cup campaign due to holding the required CAF coaching licence, with Emmanuel Siwale serving as the club’s substantive head coach. The former says the arrangement has not affected the team’s performance.
“I think technically and tactically we are working together, it’s just a matter of maybe understanding the protocols. There’s no pressure at all; we are coordinating very well. It’s a matter of how we are pushing the team.
“These other issues are about protocols comes later, but the way we are moving so far so good,” Ndhlovu indicated.
