• CHAMPIONS! Zesco United players celebrate winning the 2015 MTN-FAZ Super Division title in the dressing room despite drawing 1-1 with Forest Rangers in a Week 28 match played at Dola Hill Stadium in Ndola yesterday.

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

At Dola Hill Stadium
Forest 1 Zesco 1
‘CHICKEN’ George Lwandamina was yesterday left overjoyed as a 10-man Zesco United held on to a precious point to win their fifth league title in style with two games to spare as Zanaco and Power Dynamos were left to fight for second place.
Lwandamina, who has guided the club to their second successive title since moving to Ndola last year, joins the list of coaches who have defended the domestic league, as Zesco have now won the title five times in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014.
Scores of Zesco fans, who thronged Dola Hill Stadium, erupted into wild celebrations soon after Kitwe referee Milton Mweemba blew the final whistle with trademark chants ‘United! United! United!
On the pitch, it was a derby that lived up to expectations as Forest Rangers put up a strong challenge in a bid to spoil their cross town rivals’ party of winning the title for atleast three days.
“We have defended the title because of five elements which are found in football, the sponsors, executive, technical staff, players and indeed the supporters. All these have played into the team’s title defence,” Lwandamina said.
Needing just a point to secure the title going into this Ndola derby, in-form striker Winston Kalengo stepped up to inspire the defending champions to retaining the title.
Zesco were on the onslaught from the start whistle and did not waste time to stamp their authority in the game as Kalengo broke the deadlock with a clinical finish in the third minute with a header.
However, on-loan Zesco striker Kasashi Lupiya stole the spotlight when he came off the bench to restore parity in the 65th minute with just 10 minutes on the pitch after replacing ineffective Mundia Makokwa.
Typical of a derby clash, this encounter was not short of controversial moments with Mweemba constantly coming under scrutiny from a fully packed stadium for some questionable decisions.
Zesco had to finish the game with 10 men after midfielder-cum defender Simon Silwimba was given marching order for a crude challenge on Gift Sakuwaha five minutes before halftime while assistant coach Tenant Chembo was also sent off in the second half for protesting.
Forest came back from the break on the offensive and their efforts paid off on 65 minutes as Lupiya powered in a scramble off an Innocent Mwaba cross.
Logic Ching’andu would have sealed victory for the home side but an impressive full stretch from Banda ensured the game ended 1-1.
With Zesco winning the league, Zanaco and third placed Power Dynamos, separated by three points, have been left to fight for the coveted second place with two games left to play.
Power 3 Eagles 1
FROM Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe, KALUMIANA KALUMIANA reports that 10-man Power stayed third after a home win over Green Eagles to keep alive hopes of finishing second to play continental football next year.
Christopher Munthali scored from close range as early as the second minute before Martin Phiri finished off a Kennedy Mudenda pass to make it 2-0 in 21 minutes.
Govender Simwala made it 3-0 in the 78th minute, after his low drive from outside the box bounced off the body of a diving Eagles goalkeeper Aaron Nyirenda.
Eagles consolation came in the 86th minute via a penalty after Thomas Nyirenda handled the ball and Mwila Phiri stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.
Playing today: Mufulira Wanderers v Nchanga Rangers live on SS9.