Tongai Mashonga, [email protected]
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race has entered its defining stretch, and Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu insists his charges are peaking at exactly the right time.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s explosive Matchday 31 showdown against Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium, the Zambian gaffer said his side has not only grown in confidence but has fixed one of its biggest weaknesses, goal difference.
“The race is still on. Four games is a lot, but we have shown a lot of improvement and also improved on our goal difference,” Kaindu said.
It is a fixture loaded with subplots and bad blood from the first leg.
The first encounter at Chahwanda Stadium ended 1-1 before chaos erupted. A crowd pitch invasion caused the match to be abandoned prematurely. The PSL later ordered the final 14 minutes to be completed at a neutral venue without fans at Baobab Stadium, a replay Hardrock lost in the last minute to go down 2-1.
“The first game was a very difficult game, especially when we lost in the last minute of the replay,” Kaindu reflected.
This time, much more is at stake.
Hardrock have just hit the summit, leading Scotland FC by two points with an identical goal aggregate (34). Scottland, however, will have their attention split as they travel to Angola for their CAF Champions League date.
For Hardrock, it is a chance to tighten their grip on the title. For Dynamos, it is about pride and a top-four finish.
Kaindu’s confidence is built on creativity and firepower.
“We are a creative team hence creating many chances in almost every game and on our best day our strikers are unstoppable,” he said.
Central to that threat is Washington Navaya, who has matched his 17-goal haul from last season.
“Navaya has done well, he must not stop and pass the 20 goal mark,” Kaindu said. He also backed his Eswatini import: “Sizwe Yeki Khumalo’s best is yet to come.”
Despite the temptation to watch Scottland, Kaindu has no focus on their rivals camp.
“We need to still focus on our games and not focusing on Scottland,” he stressed.
With the ugly scenes at Chahwanda still fresh, and with the National Sports Stadium only just receiving conditional clearance for fans after a similar tragedy, the veteran coach made a passionate plea.
“Fans need to be managed in big games. Let football be played and won on the field. We expect our fans to come in numbers, their support is very key at the stage we have reached,” Kaindu said.
