By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZANACO’S unbeaten run in the 2015 MTN Premier Division League season comes under threat this afternoon when the leaders clash with 12-time champions, Nkana in a Week Nine fixture in Kitwe.

• ZANACO’s Rodrick Kabwe will be out to protect their unbeaten run

Only Zanaco and defending champions, Zesco United, who coincidentally share 17 points, have their records intact going into this weekend’s skirmishes where both sides have tricky assignments.
While Zanaco face arch rivals, Nkana – the team they have never beaten since 2013, Zesco are up against a fired-up National Assembly in Lusaka.
The teams at the foot will also be hoping to start climbing the ladder.
Nkana v Zanaco
While there are so many bad ‘blood’ games in the Zambian league, this one stands out among the top three as Zanaco renew their rivalry with Nkana in search of their first victory, having last claimed their hosts’ scalp in 2012.
Nkana Stadium has never been a good hunting ground for the Bankers and will this afternoon hope to stop that bad ‘omen’ in Kitwe.
But as tables have turned lately with Zanaco on top, a game against Nkana is one that can bring any result. The last clash between these two giants at Sunset Satadium saw Nkana running away winners amid some violence from fans.
Today, Nkana is the more desperate side wanting to get back among the top sides and the fact that a win for the home side will take them to within two points of Zanaco means this will be a fiery match to watch.
Coach Beston Chambeshi is positive Nkana will maintain their 100 percent home run against Zanaco and end the leaders’ unbeaten record this season.
Chambeshi told Supersport that his charges are fired-up by their current five-game unbeaten run this season from which they hope to pick up their third straight win.
“It is a big match and Zanaco are on top. They are playing well and all that we need to do is prepare well and maybe get three points from them. It will be a different ball game and we will see how we handle them,” Chambeshi said.
In trying to end a poor run at Nkana, Zanaco coach Mumamba Numba will be hoping that in-form defender Salulani Phiri, who has scored three goals, and midfielder Henry Banda can inspire the team to end that two-year winless run.
As for Nkana, they have some injury concern with skipper Donashano Malama being a major doubt while midfielder Claude Bwalya should be available after a four-week lay-off.
Assembly v Zesco
Title holdersZesco United will take a more than 300kilometre trip southwards to Lusaka for a game they are naturally expected to win and push on in their league defence crusade.
George Lwandamina has turned Zesco into a lethal machine but they are this week coming up against a George Kapembwa side that started poorly but has got back up and look like they are capable of upsetting any team if they really put all into it.
Separated by nine points, Zesco have too much fire-power to blow away Assembly at Woodlands Stadium in the form of Jackson Mwanza and Winston Kalengo upfront though Peter
Mwangani will prove to be handful for their defence.
Nakambala v Buffaloes
Once again, Green Buffaloes have been ditched midway by the head coach thisn time Wedson Nyirenda, leaving their ‘humble servant’ Bilton Musonda to carry on with a team that is seeking for a recovery at Nakambala Leopards in Mazabuka.
Against a bottom-of-the-table Nakambala, the only team yet to win this year, Buffaloes have a chance to redeem themselves and get into mid-table.
Blades v Power
Power Dynamos are third on the table but shocking four points off the pace already and they know they will have to keep up with the leaders.
Though Konkola Blades is not the ideal team to meet at such a time, their assistant coach John Munkonje is a some sort of a cult hero at the Arthur Davies side.
Despite being third, Power are tied on 13 points with fifth positioned Blades but the winner of this fixture is mostly assured almost being number three on the log after today’s games.
Rangers v Napsa
Another set of strugglers are facing each other today with Nchanga Rangers up against a really suffering Napsa Stars in Chingola and both sides having just a win each to their respected names.
Napsa, after starting the season with a 3-1 win, have just scored twice after that and are kept away from the base by a poor Nakambala while Rangers are also in relegation waters.
Wanderers v Dynamos
This one is a game to watch as the two promotion sides start cancelling themselves out in their quest to prove they are good enough for the top league.
Mufulira Wanderers had started on a high and once were second-placed but were slowed down while Lusaka Dynamos took the opposite route, starting from the bottom and are now unbeaten in five games, winning their last two.
“This sponsorship from Huawei (Technologies) should motivate the players to put in a bit more in this game against Wanderers and improve the general performance.
We know Wanderers and its a big team but our focus is not on them but the three points that this game has especially that we are on a good run,” Dynamos coach Perry Mutapa said.
A draw looks more likely from this match.
In today’s other games, Red Arrows, who are already flirting with relegation, will be up against Forest Rangers who are just one point behind and looking to pick up another win from Lusaka.
Nkwazi will also be fighting it out at home against Green Eagles.