KANSANSHI Dynamos Football Club Head Coach Zeddy Saileti says taking part in the 2025 Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Carling Black Label Charity Shield is a great opportunity for his team, especially after coming from the National League.
Kansanshi Dynamos, who finished second in the 2024/25 National League, will face champions Konkola Blades in the Charity Shield fixture. The match will form part of the traditional season curtain-raiser, which will also feature 2024/25 Super League champions Power Dynamos and ABSA Cup winners ZESCO United, as well as women’s teams from both the Super and National Leagues.
Coach Saileti, currently with the team in Ndola for a seven-day pre-season camp, has also highlighted the importance of both the Charity Shield fixture and the camp in Ndola as key preparation for the new season.
Interview with Head Coach Zeddy Saileti
Q: Coach, Kansanshi will be taking part in the Charity Shield. What does this opportunity mean to you, especially coming from the National League?
“It’s a big opportunity for us as a team. If you look at the timing, it’s preseason, so it will give our players some game time, and that’s important for the team.”
Q: How important is this match for the team in terms of preparation for the season?
“Of course, it’s very important. We’re working on the mental and physical aspects of the players. We’re still building conditioning and tactics, so having this game gives us good insight into how the team is shaping up.”
Q: You face National League champions Konkola Blades. What kind of performance are you expecting from your players?
“It will be entertaining and tough. We know Konkola, and they know us from the National League, so it will be competitive. But it will also serve as a good test and training for the season ahead.”
Pre-Season Camp in Ndola
Coach Saileti also shared his thoughts on the ongoing pre-season camp in Ndola, explaining the team’s objectives and approach.
Q: As the team heads into camp in Ndola, what’s your main objective for this phase of preseason?
“Our main objective is to prepare our players mentally and physically. We are working on combining everything, tactical preparation, fitness, and building the foundation and team spirit.”
Q: Why was Ndola chosen for this stage of preparation, and what advantages does it offer compared to training at home?
“Moving away from home helps the players. We want to build cohesion and unity. The players need to interact, especially since we have some new additions. We want to be together as a family, set targets, and ensure every player understands why we are in camp and what we want to achieve.”
Q: What areas will you be focusing on during this camp? Are there specific elements like endurance, strength, or speed you want to build on?
“Our focus is on cohesion first, then fitness. We want to mentally prepare the players because we’re playing in the elite league this season. It’s important they understand the level of competition and what is expected. We’re also working on reconditioning them physically.”
Q: So far, how are the players responding to the program? Are you happy with how the new additions are settling in?
“I’m very happy, so far, so good. We’ve been with them for a week now, and they’re gelling well with the rest of the squad.”
