Following Power Dynamos 2-1 win away to Vipers in the first leg preliminary round of the Caf Champions League, head coach Osward Mukuka Mutupa says they are a team on mission.
A late own goal from Derrick Ndahiro sealed the victory for the side despite falling behind just after three minutes into the second half when Yunus Sentamu struck for Vipers SC.
Moses Shuma immediately cancelled the lead with a well taken strike and now the Zambians hold advantage.
“A very important result for us. It was a difficult game but we are a team that is on a mission and came to get a result,” Mukuka told post-match press conference. “There are many results we could have got here. We could have lost but the mission was never to lose with many goals. We could have drawn and we could have won just like we did,” he added.
The tactician however cautioned his charges stating that the game is not over yet and there is everything to play for in the second leg.
“We are in the lead in the first half but we have to do the job back home in the second half. This is not the end of the game but this is a good result to take back home.”
Mukuka also revealed that they did their home work against the Ugandan champions and knew how to diffuse them and also capitalise on their weaknesses.
“I saw the two games they played against African Stars of Namibia, the players that came in, the players that started and the players that didn’t play the Stars game because they were signed late so we knew what they wanted to do and we anticipated a tough game. We just had to diffuse whatever they brought to us.
“We knew they would dominate since they were at home and credit to my centre backs who did well and we could have kept a clean sheet if not for the laziness in the lead up to goal.
“After the equaliser, they all moved up and left spaces behind and as we capitalised and that led to the own goal.”
A draw or even at a worst, a 1-0 defeat will see Power Dynamos, 1991 Caf winners cup champions qualify for the lucrative group stages.
