Al Merrikh engage in mind games
NDINAWE SIMPELWE, ROBINSON KUNDA
Ndola, Lusaka
AL MERRIKH vice-president Mohamed Azim has engaged in mind games ahead of tomorrow’s CAF Champions League preliminary round return leg against Power Dynamos, saying the Zambians have a bigger chance to progress compared to the Sudanese.
And Red Arrows have become the first Zambian team to use Statsports Global Positioning System (GPS) player tracking technology, with club president Moses Kambimbi describing the investment as a reflection and determination to remain progressive and competitive in an increasingly sophisticated football environment.
In an interview in Ndola on Wednesday evening, Azim described Power as a good and complete team which gave Al Merrikh a good run in the first leg in Kigali, Rwanda, last Saturday.
Al Merrikh won 1-0 through a 39th minute Aboubacar Bangoura penalty.
He said Power are capable of staging a comeback in tomorrow’s match set for Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Azim said as much as he wants his side to progress, he believes Power have an edge, especially that they will be at home.
“We hope to play a fair game on Saturday without any difficulties. If we win, that will be okay, but if the other team (Power) wins, it is a strong team, we know that. It is the best team [in Zambia], we know that. But we shall do everything to get a good result,” he said.
Power need to win by at least a two-goal margin.
The winner over two legs will face Algeria’s JS Saoura or Horoya from Guinea Conakry in the first round.
Azim said Al Merrikh have been following the progress of Power from last season when the Zambian champions reached the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
He said apart from following the progress Power have made, Al Merrikh have some history with Zambian players who have played for the Sudanese side, such as Jonas Sakuwaha, Ricky Banda and currently Obino Chisala.
Azim also praised Power for the good reception they have accorded his team since arriving on Tuesday, saying the professionalism exhibited should be commended.
He said Merrikh hopes to continue with the relationship with Power beyond the Champions League clash.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued yesterday by Arrows media, Colonel Kambimbi said the technology is not simply about having modern equipment but about creating an environment where performance can be measured.
Other known teams that use Statsports GPS-based performance technology in Africa include ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, Durban City of South Africa, Young Africans of Tanzania, the Ghana Football Association and Rwanda Football Association.
“We must continue to invest in systems that improve the quality of football we produce. This technology is not simply about having modern equipment, it is about creating an environment where performance can be measured, understood and improved,” Kambimbi said.
Arrows chief executive officer Kambani Lungu welcomed the introduction of the technology and described it as an important investment in the club’s technical development and a demonstration of management’s commitment to giving the coaching staff and players modern tools to enhance performance.
“The introduction of GPS technology is part of our broader strategy to professionalise the club and ensure that our technical team has access to accurate performance data. Modern football is increasingly data-driven and we want Red Arrows to be part of that evolution,” Lieutenant Colonel Lungu said.
Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe believes the technology will complement the coaching staff’s assessment of players and provide greater precision in managing training loads and match preparation.
“The eye test remains important but having measurable data gives the technical team another layer of information. We can better understand the demands being placed on individual players and make more informed decisions around training, recovery and match readiness,” Mbewe said.
The introduction of Statsports GPS technology comes as Arrows continue to compete at domestic and continental levels, where the demands of a congested football calendar require increasingly sophisticated player management systems.
The move is therefore not only a technological upgrade but another statement of intent from a club seeking to build modern football structures capable of supporting sustained success.
The GPS kit comprises the Statsports elite player performance analysis unit, customer docking station, 80 player vests, an apple ipad, laptop, heart rate monitors and analysis software all tiers, among others.
