Exclusive: Nkana Legend Jericho Shinde Relishes Kitwe Derby

Nkana legend Jericho Shinde says there are no clear favourites in next week’s Kitwe Derby between Power Dynamos and Nkana, which will be played at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

The first installment of Zambia’s biggest domestic match will be played at a neutral venue. The game has been penned for the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, 60 kilometers away from Kitwe. 

The match, set for Saturday, December 7, will see both teams vying for the bragging rights of Kitwe

NO FAVOURITES

Shinde, a Nkana legend and the club’s academy coach has failed to make the call on who will carry the day given that both teams are enjoying relatively good form at the moment. 

In their last five matches, Nkana have managed four wins and one defeat, a run that is mirrored by their bitter rivals Power. 

“Very difficult to predict, a derby is difficult to predict. It will depend on who turns up on that particular day. It is really up to the players. There is nothing coaches can do to motivate the players for the derby,” Shinde said exclusively to SportsBoom.co.za.

Nkana are seventh on the log with 19 points, six behind Power who are in third. The game will be spiced by the fact that Mwenya Chipepo, the coach who guided Power to their last league title, is now in charge of Nkana. 

HISTORY FAVOURS POWER 

Power will go into this match high on confidence in that the head-to-head record favours them. In the last five meetings with Nkana, Power have managed four wins to Nkana’s one. 

However, Shinde has warned that history may be misleading. 

“Well, I have seen the stats, Power have won the last four meetings. But the worst mistake would be to go into the match like that one thinking that you have already won, that would be suicidal,” Shinde warned. 

Shinde said, Power have an experienced coach in Oswald Mutapa who will not allow his players underrate Nkana. 

NEUTRAL VENUE, NO PROBLEM 

Shinde said he still expects the fans to come in numbers despite the derby being played out of town. 

In an effort to maximize gate takings, Power Dynamos have moved the match from Kitwe’s Arthur Davies Stadium, which has a capacity of 10,000, to the 45,000-seater Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. 

“This is one of the biggest games on the continent, it is certainly the biggest in Zambia so I don’t think being played outside Kitwe will be a factor, the fans will come in numbers. It is up to the players to give the fans a good show,” Shinde concluded.