• Zesco players hoist the trophy at Levy Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola yesterday

By NDINAWE SIMPELWE  At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium –
Zesco 4 Wanderers 2
“THIS is the happiest day of my coaching career”, Zesco United acting head coach Tenant Chembo said after winning the 2017 MTN/FAZ Super Division title and at the same time condemned legendary ‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers to Division One.
Zesco won the four-way race that saw them finish on 74 points with Zanaco, who beat Forest Rangers, second on 73 points as Nkana replaced Green Buffaloes in third following their emphatic win over Konkola Blades to finish on 71 points while the army side remained rooted on 70 points.

While it was all joyous for Zesco, players and fans shed tears when the final whistle blew that confirmed Wanderers relegation to the lower ranks.
An elated Chembo, usually overlooked for the head coach position, paid tribute to Zesco administrators for the professional way they have handled the team saying it was different with other teams.
“It is definitely the happiest day of my career. I have won the league before under great coaches in front of me. I’m proud to say that I have learnt a lot from them,” Chembo said.
In contrast, Wanderers coach Justin Chinama described the defeat to Zesco which saw the legendary side demoted as the saddest day of his career.
Chinama said it was sad to experience demotion for the first time in his career adding that the team did its best to hang on to the slim hopes of surviving and gave a good account of itself but were let down by poor defending.
“We gave it a good fight. We have tried our best. I think it wasn’t just our year. We will just have to get organised and so that we challenge for the title in division one so that we come back in 2019,” Chinama said.
Zesco survived a scare from a motivated Wanderers, to win the match that lived up to its billing and eventually killed off competition for the title from Zanaco, Buffaloes and Nkana.
A Jesse Were brace sandwiched by goals from John Chingandu and Lazarous Kambole cancelled out Giuly Manziba’s two goals.
Levy Mwanawasa was stormed by excited Zesco fans after the final whistle as they celebrated the Ndola giants’ sixth league title since winning promotion in 2004.