Red Arrows head coach Chisi Mbewe says his side are ready to seize another opportunity on the continental stage when they host Madagascar’s RC Rouge in the CAF Confederation Cup First Preliminary Round first-leg tie at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium today.
Mbewe says the Airmen are highly motivated to represent both the Zambia Air Force and the country and believes preparations for the continental campaign have gone well. The Red Arrows coach is now challenging his players to turn that preparation into a strong performance and secure an advantage ahead of the return leg.
“Another great opportunity and chance for us to participate in the Confederation Cup. I think we’ve prepared so well. The team looks ready and set going into this tournament. We know what is at stake. We are representing the Air Force, but also Zambia as a nation,” Mbewe said.
Preparations were further boosted by a recent international friendly against Tanzanian giants Simba SC, which provided the team with valuable competitive minutes ahead of their continental assignment. Mbewe believes the experience will help his players approach the encounter with the required intensity and sharpness.
“We just need to fight, work extra hard and ensure that we get to the next stage,” he said.
Despite playing at home, Mbewe is expecting a difficult contest and has warned his players against underestimating RC Rouge. The coach believes their qualification for the competition is evidence of their quality and says Red Arrows must respect their opponents.
“It’s not a weak team. In football, there’s no weak team. For our opponents to qualify for this competition, it means they are a good side.”
Mbewe has described the Madagascar outfit as a youthful and tactically disciplined team, with the Red Arrows technical bench having conducted research on their opponents. He expects the visitors’ energy and tactical organisation to make the match a tricky test.
“It’s going to be an interesting and tricky game. It’s a youthful side. We’ve done our research on our opponents. It’s a very good side. The oldest is about 25 years and it’s a very tactical team,” he said.
The Red Arrows coach is also encouraged by the team’s attacking improvement after creating several chances and scoring twice in their previous outing. However, the departure of striker Albert Kangwanda has left a void that the club is working to fill with its new recruits.
“We miss him, but we’ve moved on. We have a couple of players that we’ve recruited in the team. They are settling so well. When they settle fully, we will start seeing goals coming,” Mbewe said.
While Red Arrows have experienced disappointment in previous continental campaigns, Mbewe believes those setbacks can serve as valuable lessons rather than a source of pressure. The Airmen will now look to use that experience to navigate the two-legged tie and progress to the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Red Arrows host RC Rouge today at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 hours. The Airmen will be hoping to make home advantage count and take a positive result into the return leg in Madagascar.
