By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
INTRIGUING MTN-FAZ Super League rescheduled midweek fixtures today take centre stage as Zesco begin life without Tenant Chembo while he leads Buildcon against Nkana three days after masterminding the Reds downfall at the same venue.
Zanaco head to Chingola to take on Nchanga Rangers after the CAF Confederations Cup loss to Raja Casablanca at the weekend while Arrows host Kitwe United in Lusaka.
Dynamos vs Zesco
Fresh from putting five past promotion side New Monze Swallows, Lusaka Dynamos take on defending champions Zesco United at Sunset Stadium and will be without Chembo who joined their neighbours Buildcon in a rescheduled Week One fixture.
Emmanuel Siwale will be in charge of the Ndola side who will be hoping the happenings outside the pitch does not affect them on the pitch.
Zesco are coming from a gritty 1-0 win against Nkana and need the result to keep up with the leading pair of Power Dynamos and Green Buffaloes but so do Dynamos who have won their last two games.
Dynamos coach Danny Kabwe said they have finally found their touch and stand ready for the champions after the Swallows game will hope former Zesco playmaker Cletus Chota and marksman Chris Mugalu are in the mood for this spicy tie.
Zesco will look to in-form Lazarious Kambole and Jesse-Jackson Were for the goals as the duo seem to be enjoying a purple patch.
Nkana vs Buildcon
Chembo will have a second bite at the cherry within three days when he takes his new expensively assembled side to Wusakile in search of the first points of the season as Buildcon lost all the three games played that led to firing of their Italian coach Arena Gulgleimo.
He led Zesco to a narrow 1-0 win on Sunday before quitting after the game to join the Ndola money bags.
Nkana are also looking to make amends after losing two games against contenders on the trot. First they lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Power Dynamos and then Zesco last Sunday as pressure mounts on Beston Chambeshi and his charges.
This is a pivotal game for both clubs and has the makings of a thriller with the amount of attacking talent on display.
Nkana will have their cult hero Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba, Festus Mbewe, Idriss Mbombo and captain Walter Binene Bwalya to pick from while Buildcon has Rahim Osumanu, Brian Mwila, Chanda Mushili, Given Singuluma and Chisamba Lungu for the answer.
It is at the back that both teams have looked shaky conceding at will and they will definitely be goals in this game. Chambeshi needs to sort out the goalkeeping problem at Nkana as well.
All eyes will be on Chembo to see how he sets out his team after his predecessor preferred to play with a back three of Ben Adama Bahn, Isaac Shamujompa and Christopher Munthali.
Ranger vs Zanaco
After the disappointment of the Raja loss on Saturday, Zanaco need a result to sooth the pain and it comes in form of the Week One rescheduled tie against Nchanga Rangers in Chingola who are also coming from losing the last two games.
Zanaco have won the three games played this far and haven’t allowed a single goal. They will want to continue on this trajectory and make ground on the leaders. A win sends them within a point of Power and Buffaloes on points with a game in hand.
Zanaco look bullish on the local scene and their veteran defense of Jimmy Nakena, Ziyo Tembo and Edward Chilufya looks good. They have the firing power of Maisha Chavda, Martin Phiri, Felix Nyaende and Ernest Mbewe to trouble the Rangers defense.
Rangers have been inconsistent as they are struggling for identity and their supporters will hear from the football association after the Green Buffaloes bus had its windows smashed.
Arrows vs Kitwe
This is a rescheduled Week Five match after the Zambia Women national team used their stadium Nkoloma for the Ghana 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania last Sunday.
Arrows will have their work cut out against Kitwe United who have been punching above their weight as they occupy sixth place heading into todays’ game. That is two places below Arrows in fourth.