•FOOTBALL Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya (right) presents Chipolopolo replica jerseys to Barclays Bank managing director, Saviour Chibiya during the 2015 Barclays Cup draw at Taj-Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday. (Inset) Barclays Cup trophy on display. Pictures by SHAMAOMA MUSONDA

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
HISTORY-MAKING Lumwana Radiants have been handed a nightmare of a draw in the prestigious 2015 Barclays Cup tournament with a quarter-final clash against giants, Zanaco, while four-time champions, Zesco United got a date with Kabwe Warriors.
During the draw conducted at Taj-Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday where Barclays Bank announced a whopping K2.2 million sponsorship package for this year’s tournament, Lumwana, the first team from North-Western Province to play in the Barclays Cup, will face-off with Zanaco on September 20 in Lusaka.
Zanaco were relieved to be drawn against Lumwana, the Super League promotion-chasing FAZ Division One North side, in the quarter-finals set for Nkoloma Stadium.
As if that was not enough for the Solwezi side, Lumwana were put on the same side of the draw as legendary cup fighters, Mufulira Wanderers who got themselves a September 19 quarter-final draw against high fliers, Nkwazi.
However, Lumwana, the only side in the draws that has never taken part in the tournament, will be encouraged that none of the teams in their side of the draw has ever won Zambia’s only cup competition.
Lumwana can only meet a former Barclays Cup winner in the final as the other side of the draw has two former winners – Zesco and Power Dynamos.
Champions and record four-time winners, Zesco have a quarter-final date against Kabwe Warriors, the other Division One side, making the cut while two-time champions Power face off against Green Buffaloes.
Zesco were bullish after the draw, stating that they would aim to retain the title but added a seasoning of respect to their opponents, Warriors.
“We are the champions, so we are obviously going for the title again. We respect Warriors, they are playing well and we shall not take them lightly. We play to take every game serious,” Zesco committee member, Hastings Ndovi said.
Warriors secretary Harry Siame said his club was not intimidated by the draw, describing the fixture as a game between Division One leaders and Premier Division leaders.
“It will be a 50-50 game, we are leaders and they are leaders. So it will be a great game. We have a young energetic team, average age 22 and it will be a good game,” he said.
Buffaloes chairperson, Colonel Andrew Sinyangwe said there was nothing new about facing Power as they had beaten them before and as early as three weeks ago.
Nkwazi admitted playing Wanderers was nerve-wrecking but that having picked up just one point from a possible six this year against them, a revenge would be sweet.
Barclays Bank unveiled a K2.2 million budget, representing about 10 per cent rise from last year’s sponsorship.
Barclays managing director, Saviour Chibiya said the increased sponsorship demonstrated the bank’s desire to promote the youth in Zambia as was also seen in various entrepreneurship training workshops it has had with the Chipolopolo players.
“We are committed to the growth of the game and this shows just how committed we are. In England we sponsor the league and also in South Africa under Absa and this is no surprise,” he said.
FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya said such a Cup competition was a path to development and that Football House was excited to be partnering with Barclays.
“This is an exciting tournament. We thank Barclays for the support to us and football in general. To you (Barclays), I would like to say your efforts are noted and all the best in trying to leverage from the game,” he said.
From the K2.2 million Barclays is pumping into this year’s tournament, K300,000 will go to the winners, a K50,000 increase from last year, indicating an improvement by 20 per cent while the runners-up will receive K150,000.
The Coach of the Tournament will again pocket K10,000 with the Player of the Tournament reaping K5,000 while K1,000 has been reserved for the Man-of-the Match in each of the eight matches in this year’s competition.
The total cash prize money is K471,000 from the sponsorship package.
The quarter-final double-header games will be at Nkoloma Stadium on Saturday and Sunday in September with the semi-final double-header set for October 17 while the final will be on November 14.
The 2015 Barclays Cup quarter-final fixtures:
Saturday September 19
13hrs Wanderers v Nkwazi
15hrs     Power v Buffaloes
Sunday September 20
13hrs     Zanaco v Lumwana
15hrs     Zesco v Warriors