Numba backs Miguel to spark at Zesco

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Jan 22, 2022. 09:00

Zesco United coach Mumamba Numba is pleased with what he has seen so far from Pedro Miguel and is confident the new striker is going to fill the big boots left by Jesse  Were.

The 25-year-old Angolan striker joined the defending FAZ Super League champions in the January window from second tier side Trident FC where he scored 14 goals in seven matches this season.

It has taken just two games for Miguel to get off the mark at Zesco after scoring the lone goal in their 1-0 home win over Kabwe Warriors on January 16 in Ndola after earlier making his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 away loss at Red Arrows on January 8 in Lusaka.

“I think he has done very well so far, especially that this was his first start. He needs to be encouraged in a new environment and we shouldn’t put him under pressure but encourage him to give us his best,” Numba said.

Miguel has a hard act to follow since Were’s departure at the end of December, 2021 after Zesco decided not to extend the 32-year-old Kenyans stay.

Were has left Zesco as the clubs’ all-time top scorer with 102 goals during his six seasons with the nine-time Zambian champions whom he joined in January 2016 from Kenyan club Tusker.

“If you look at Jesse Were, he is a very experienced player but we have brought in someone who is young to fill the shoes that Jesse has left.” Numba said.

“Our job is now to encourage the young lad so that he can also give us the goals that Jesse gave the team.

“We are very grateful to Jesse, he showed professionalism even when he knew that we were not renewing the contract.