Ahead of Sunday’s crucial CAF Confederation Cup Group D clash, Zesco United CEO Kelvin Mutafu has reignited a fierce continental rivalry, labelling South African giants Kaizer Chiefs as ‘customers’ of the Zambian outfit.
With both teams desperate for their first win of the group stage, Mutafu’s comments have set the stage for a high-stakes encounter at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Kick off is 3PM.
Speaking to the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation [ZNBC], Mutafu did not mince words regarding the history between the two clubs and his expectations for the upcoming back-to-back fixtures.
“Kaizer Chiefs, I think, have been a customer of Zesco,” Mutafu stated confidently. “We can do a double, because what we need to do is win them home and away so that we are back in the race.”
The CEO’s choice of words, calling the Betway Premiership giants ‘customers’, possibly alludes to Zesco being the Government-owned national power utility and to their dominance over Amakhosi in 2019.
He further suggested that the South African side still carries the scars of previous defeats. “They are very bitter. Zesco has the character to turn the tables against Kaizer Chiefs. So, I’m just appealing to the fans to come in numbers.”
HOW CHIEFS AND ZESCO FARED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE PAST
Mutafu’s confidence is backed by recent history. During the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup campaign, Zesco United famously humiliated Kaizer Chiefs, defeating them in both legs of the playoff round. In the first leg, hosted in Ndola, Zesco United won 3–1 before a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in Johannesburg.
That 5-2 aggregate victory remains a sore point for the Amakhosi faithful, and Mutafu is banking on that psychological edge to propel his side out of the bottom of Group D.
Both teams have struggled to keep pace with Egyptian powerhouses Zamalek and Al Masry. The Zambians sit at the bottom of the table, winless after two rounds.
Amakhosi, who are third with one point off their 1-1 draw against Zamalek, arrive in Zambia on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 domestic win over Golden Arrows. However, they will need to find another gear to silence the vocal home crowd and a CEO who clearly believes his side owns the Glamour Boys.
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