Dynamos FC Coach Lloyd Chigowe says the 16-time Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League have nothing to fear when they face ZESCO United in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 first preliminary round, second leg fixture at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference Friday, the Zambian-born coach said the 1-0 lead from the first leg has helped the Zimbabweans get a good understanding of how ZESCO United fairs on the pitch.
Chigowe rubbished any immediate thoughts of playing away from home, saying there will be nothing like home ground advantage when Dynamos faces the Zambian heavyweights.
“Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia are one country; we are one people. When we are here (in Zambia), we are at home. Myself I was born here; my father had a farm here in Zambia in Mumbwa (district). Zimbabwe and Zambia are Siamese twins, and it’s Dynamos who are always playing with adversity,” Chigowe charged.
“Every team in Zimbabwe wants to beat Dynamos and for the greater part of last season, we were playing away from our home because our stadium was not certified so we are used to playing away from home that’s why we played in Gaborone, but we settled for that. What is going to matter tomorrow is the application and may the better team win.”
Chigowe believed in ZESCO’s potential to hurt Dynamos but said his team will play with pride on Saturday. “When Dynamos goes to sleep, Zimbabwean football goes to sleep so we are the flagbearers, we must lead the way in resuscitating football in Zimbabwe and we take the responsibility (to do that),” Chigowe said.
Dynamos Captain Frank Makarati is looking forward to the second leg showdown on Saturday. “We played last week with ZESCO and we saw how they played, so from our side we are ready to face them again Tomorrow (on Saturday).
“We are very ready, and it’s going to be an electrifying match because we are facing one of the biggest clubs in Zambia and so from our side are very ready for everything that they are going to throw at us. We have the quality to go to the next round,” Makarati said.
Tickets for Saturday’s match set for 15h00 at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola are available from K10 in all Shoprite stores countrywide via CompuTicket.