By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE -(MaraviPost)-The head coach of Blue Eagles Football Club, Eliah Kananji, expects a challenging encounter against Chipiku Premier Division league team Leyman Panthers from Area 49, Lilongwe, in the round of 64 of the prestigious MK320 million Castel Challenge Ibongetse Cup.
The Policemen’s gaffer shared his thoughts on Tuesday ahead of the clash scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at Civo Stadium.
Kananji acknowledged the difficulties of facing relatively unknown teams, emphasizing that such matchups are unpredictable due to the unfamiliarity with their strengths and weaknesses.
“It will be a tough game because smaller teams put in a lot of effort when playing against bigger teams. Panthers may be aware of our strengths and weaknesses, whereas we lack insight into their style of play.
“We have faced such teams in friendlies, so we have some knowledge, but I’ve cautioned my players against complacency. This is a knockout game that demands unwavering concentration from start to finish,” Kananji said.
He further addressed the tight schedule, with games coming in quick succession, leading to injuries.
Kananji disclosed that he would be without Maxwell Gustavo and Jacob Robert, both injured in a match against Morale Barracks in Rumphi.
Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in the squad’s depth.
Leyman Panthers’ head coach, Atanazius Jabulani, revealed that they learned valuable lessons from their humbling 6-0 defeat to Civil Service United in the FDH Bank Cup.
The experience has motivated them to approach the upcoming game with greater determination.
“We have prepared thoroughly for this match. The Civil game provided us with essential lessons. While we did suffer a 6-0 defeat against Civil.
“We don’t anticipate a repeat of that performance tomorrow. Playing against Super League teams serves as motivation for our players,” says Jabulani.
Blue Eagles FC enters Wednesday’s game following a 1-1 draw against Moyale Barracks FC in the Airtel Top 8 competition.
The team currently occupies 8th place in the TNM Super League with 30 points.
In their recent league match, they were defeated 2-0 at home by Mighty Mukuru Wanderers FC.
Leyman Panthers FC, based in Area 49, finds themselves second from the bottom in the 12-team Chipiku Premier Division league table in the Central Region.
They have accumulated 2 points from 5 games.
