Mbewe calls on Zambia to improve

by Staff Reporter

Friday Jun 28, 2024. 13:00

Zambia coach Chisi Mbewe acknowledges that improvements need to be made in both defence and attack after kicking off their COSAFA Cup title defence with a 2-0 defeat to Kenya on Thursday.

The Copper Bullets got off to the worst possible start when they gave away a penalty in the eighth minute which was converted by Austine Odhiambo and there was no way back after Patrick Otieno doubled the Emerging Stars’ lead 11 minutes later.

Mbewe felt they gave the opposition far too much respect but wasn’t too disheartened by their performance at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha despite the poor result.

He is confident of bouncing back against Zimbabwe on Sunday, June 30 if they can find the right balance between defence and attack.

“I would say we had a great game. We just unfortunately allowed goals in the early minutes of the game,” Mbewe said.

“But I think the team played well, we created chances. We were just unfortunate, and may I also even say congratulations to Kenya.

“It was an interesting game and it being a first game for us, we just need now to go back into training, we come back for the second game and ensure that we come back to our winning ways.

“I think that we need to improve. Like I mentioned in the early minutes of the game, I think we gave Kenya too many chances. I think the first goal, we did not balance well. That’s why we even caused that penalty.

“The second goal, again, I think the balancing and defense was not [organised]. We did not do well. I think going forward, we just need to be solid in defense and again, upfront, we did not create so many chances.”