Silver’s victory over Creck a morale booster ahead of Yanga clash, says Msukwa

Silver Strikers assistant coach Kent Mapopa Msukwa has hailed his team’s hard-fought victory against Creck Sporting as the perfect tonic ahead of their crucial Saturday fixture against Yanga in Tanzania in the CAF Champions League, insisting the three points have injected much-needed confidence into the squad as they prepare for another challenging encounter.

Silver Strikers had to wait for a late winner from Uchizi Vunga after Patrick Mupanzi cancelled Emmanuel Allan’s opener from the penalty spot. They recorded a 2-1 win.

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Speaking in the post-match interviews, Msukwa was full of praise for his players’ commitment and resilience in securing a victory that keeps their season on track, even if the performance itself didn’t quite reach the heights he had hoped for.

“It’s a win which is a boost for us. We are going to Tanzania after winning the game and it’s a morale booster for us going into the match against Yanga,” Msukwa said, his relief at securing the result evident. “We thank the boys for the dedication, for the win against Creck. It’s always tough to play against them.”

“Contrasting Styles Pose Tactical Puzzle”

The match against Creck Sporting presented a unique tactical challenge for the Bankers, one that required a different approach compared to their recent encounters with more technically-oriented opponents. While the team has built its identity around a possession-based, passing style of football, Creck’s direct, no-nonsense approach tested their adaptability and mental fortitude.

“Creck Sporting are one of the teams that play different football and they are more of a standard one,” Msukwa explained . “We play a passing game, and playing against teams like Creck, you sometimes struggle. Creck were more of a straight football, the goalie will hit it and it was hard for us to play against them.”

This clash of philosophies created a disjointed contest that prevented the team from establishing the rhythm and fluency that has characterized their better performances this season. The long-ball tactics employed by Creck, with their goalkeeper launching aerial balls forward at every opportunity, disrupted the home side’s build-up play and forced them into uncomfortable situations.

“Our transition from attack to defense was not good,” Msukwa admitted candidly. “When you’re used to playing a certain way and controlling the ball, it becomes difficult when the opposition bypasses midfield and plays directly. We had to adjust, and that took time.”

The assistant coach drew an interesting comparison with their previous match against Yanga, suggesting that facing opponents who share a similar footballing philosophy actually makes his team’s job easier, even if those opponents might be considered stronger on paper.

“We played well against Yanga because we play almost the same style, mode of play. Our transition was better than today’s performance,” Msukwa noted. “When both teams want to play football, it opens up the game and suits us better. Today was different. It was about grinding out a result.”

This tactical insight reveals the nuanced challenges coaches face in modern football, where success isn’t just about having the better players but about adapting to various styles and finding solutions to different problems. For Msukwa and the technical team, the victory over Creck, however imperfect, demonstrated the squad’s growing maturity and ability to win in multiple ways.

“Squad Management and Log Table Pressures”

One of the key talking points surrounding the match was the team selection, particularly the decision to field several key players despite having another demanding fixture against Yanga just days later. With player fatigue and injury risks always a concern when fixtures come thick and fast, some questioned whether rotation might have been the wiser option.

Silver featured almost a strong team with George Chikooka starting in goals, Maxwell Paipi, Nixon Mwase, Dan Sandukira, Chikondi Kamanga, Uchizi Vunga, Andrew Joseph, Binwell Katinji all starting.

However, Msukwa was resolute in defending the technical team’s approach, pointing to the team’s precarious position on the log table as justification for prioritizing the result over rest.

“Looking at where we are on the log table, we also need points,” he stated firmly. “We also want to manage the players and we know what we are doing. Every game is important, and we can’t afford to take any match lightly or throw away points thinking about the next game.”

This balancing act between immediate needs and long-term planning is one of the most challenging aspects of coaching. Msukwa’s comments suggest he and the rest of the technical staff have carefully calculated the risks and believe their key players are capable of handling the workload, even with limited recovery time before traveling to Tanzania.

The assistant coach revealed that the original game plan had been to build a comfortable lead early, which would have allowed the technical team to withdraw important players and give fringe squad members valuable minutes. Unfortunately, Creck’s stubborn resistance prevented this scenario from materializing.

“We planned to score more goals then rest some players, but we couldn’t,” Msukwa said with a hint of frustration. “Sometimes in football, things don’t go according to plan. You have to accept that and move on. The important thing is we got the three points.”

The psychological boost of traveling to a difficult away venue on the back of a victory, rather than a defeat or draw, cannot be underestimated. Teams often feed off momentum, and Msukwa clearly believes this win has provided exactly that at the right moment.

The challenge for the coaching staff over the next few days will be to ensure players recover adequately from their exertions against Creck while maintaining the mental sharpness and tactical discipline required to compete against quality opposition in a hostile environment. Squad rotation in training sessions, careful monitoring of physical loads, and astute use of sports science data will all play crucial roles.

With their league position demanding positive results and the team showing they can win even when not at their fluent best, the squad will travel to Tanzania with cautious optimism. The victory over Creck may not have been pretty, but in the context of a long season where points accumulation is paramount, it could prove to be a valuable stepping stone toward their ultimate objectives.