WILDLIFE VIDEO INSPIRED MY BOYS AGAINST POWER – MATSAUTSO
By Daily Revelation Correspondent
GREEN Buffaloes coach Masauso Tembo has described how a wildlife video during his pre-match briefing inspired his charges in Saturday’s dramatic rally from one-down to beat defending MTN/FAZ Super League champions Power Dynamos 3-1 at Edwin Imboela Stadium in Lusaka.
Buffaloes’ home victory in their rescheduled Week 6 fixture cannot be underplayed because it also ended Power’s unbeaten start to the 2023/2024 league season and denied them an opportunity to go top of the table.
Furthermore, it was also a major result for Buffaloes who ended their four-match winless drought and saw them crawl out of the bottom four relegation zone.
Tembo said in a post-match interview that he hoped this was a turning point for his side after a month-and-a-half-long winless run.
“I think during the briefing everyone was surprised when I showed them a video of a fight between a Buffalo and a Lion and you know how a wounded Buffaloes behaves,” Tembo said.
“All the players were shocked saying what is this that the coach is doing? What is this?
“But I was happy with the way they reacted coming from a goal down and I hope we keep the same momentum.”
But the Power bench did not react to the defeat presumably due to bereavement for head coach Mwenya Chipepo who lost his father on the eve of the match while he was away in Lusaka for the game.
Meanwhile, Power took the lead in the 3rd minute when striker Andy Boyeli scored his third league goal of the season and sixth in all competition.
But Buffaloes hit back through George Ngoma whose 27th minute goal saw the two sides go one-all into the break.
Ngoma completed his brace in the 63rd minute and Golden Mashata completed Buffaloes’ stunning comeback in the 87th minute.
Before Saturday’s win, Buffaloes trace their last three points to August 26 when they beat Napsa Stars 2-1 at home and after that recorded two draws and as many defeats.
Buffaloes’ win sees the army side rise five places from 16th to 12th place, two places above the bottom four drop zone.
Power on the other hand slip from 4th to 5th with 12 points and stayed two points behind leaders Zesco United after seven rounds played.
Kabwe Warriors replaced Power at number four without kicking the ball after the latter’s defeat gave them a better goal difference to change the dynamics in fourth and fifth place.
And in the other rescheduled Week 6 fixture, last season’s runners-up FC MUZA fared better than Power after drawing 2-2 at home in Mazabuka against mid-table side Forest Rangers.
The draw saw MUZA remain the only unbeaten side this season and the 2023/2024 continental debutants stay put in 3rd place on 13 points.
