• BUILDCON FC forward Rahim Osumanu (l) duels with Zesco United centre half David Owino Odhiambo during the Ndola derby at Levy Mwanawasa yesterday. Picture courtesy of BUILDCON.

By SAMUEL  LUKHANDA At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium –
Buildcon 1 – 3 Zesco
CHAMPIONS Zesco United started their MTN-FAZ Super League title defence with a gritty come from behind 3-1 win over 10-man town rivals Buildcon in the Ndola derby to take the bragging rights and put three points on the board.
The scoreline might be flattering to Zesco but it does not tell the whole story as the champions struggled in the first half as Buildcon took the game to them in daring fashion.
Buildcon lanky forward Rahim Osumanu headed the home team in front in the 37minute corner from Captain Chisamba Lungu that found Zesco goalkeeper Jacob Banda in no man’s land after he earlier missed another golden opportunity.
The home side went to the break ahead and on resumption, Zesco were a different side spreading the ball around with purpose and the brilliant Lameck Banda played a well weighted cross that substitute Zikiru Adams nodded home for the equaliser in the 52nd minute.
Five minutes later, it was another Zesco substitute Jesse Jackson Were who rode a couple of challenges to beat the advancing Buildcon goalkeeper Tatenda Marshall Mukuruva for the lead.
It took the sting out of the game as Zesco bossed possession and Fackson Kapumbu hit the cross bar from a free kick as the crowd realised there could be more.
To add salt to injury, in the 76th minute, the Buildcon anchor man Devon Chafa reckless challenge on Kambole saw World Cup-bound Jan Sikazwe produce a second yellow and was sent off.
The pressure was immense and Banda’s shot was handled in the box by Buildcon Nqbizitha Masuku. Kambole stepped up to score the resultant spot kick and put the tie beyond Buildcon in the 84th.
The result compounded Buildcon woes after they lost the opening fixture to National Assembly at home and the coach made five changes to that team in this game.
Forest 1-0 Lumwana
Damiano Kola came off the bench to score a wonder goal that earned Forest Rangers a hard-fought victory against Lumwana Radiants writes NDINAWE SIMPELWE.
It was sweet victory for Forest who lost points without playing a game after they did not travel for the week two rescheduled fixture against Nkana.
Playing their first game of the season, Forest struggled for fluidity and were lucky not to concede in the 32nd minute when a Kelvin Kapumbu header bounced off the crossbar.
Lumwana were made to pay for failing to utilise their chances when Kola who replaced Benson Chali in the second half scored a cracker of the goal from long range to hand the home side the victory.
Lumwana remains without a win on 14th position are now on 11th position.