Zesco can bag it today

07/10/2015

ZESCO United will wrap up the Super Division title with victory in today’s Week 27 clash against stuttering Power Dynamos but they will need a favour from Nkwazi who host Zanaco at Edwin Imboela Stadium in Lusaka.
Victory will give the defending champions and leaders an unassailable 63 points with three games to spare, as long as Zanaco, second on the table, tumble against unpredictable Nkwazi.
The leaders have been impregnable at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium and should easily burst past inconsistent Power who have remote chances of emerging champions.
ZESCO v POWER
Smarting from last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Green Eagles, Zesco will target beating Power and hope Nkwazi beat Zanaco.
A win for Zesco will push them to unassailable 63 points if Zanaco tumble to Nkwazi.
Zanaco will amass 65 points if they win the remaining four games, Power 63 and Zesco 72 points.
But if Zesco lose to Power, the former will need to collect six points from three games which include a Week 29 clash against Zanaco.
Zesco’s other games are against Forest Rangers and Lusaka Dynamos while Zanaco have National Assembly and Green Eagles.

Zesco have beaten Power twice this year.
Zesco thumped Power 3-1 in the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield final at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe on March 7 and 2-0 in a Week 12 match at Arthur Davies Stadium on July 9.
Zesco coach George Lwandamina will look to goalpoacher Winston Kalengo to complete a treble over Power.
Kalengo and Jonas Sakuwaha contributed a goal in the first leg.
Cletus Chama, Mwape Mwelwa, Lazarous Kambole and John Ching’andu are other players who could torment the Christopher Munthali-led defence.
“We have prepared well. The team is ready to face Zesco. I know we have done our homework. We have played them twice this year and they have beaten us. I hope we can also smile on Wednesday,” Power coach Tenant Chilumba said.
But buoyed by the 2-0 win over Assembly, Power will face Zesco with confidence and will rely on Luka Lungu, Martin Phiri and Larry Bwalya to derail Zesco’s coronation.
NKWAZI v ZANACO
Fresh from the 2-0 win over Konkola Blades, Zanaco will stroll on the pitch at Edwin Imboela Stadium with confidence.
Zanaco will look to Ernest Mbewe and Moses Phiri, scorer on Sunday to keep the title ambition alive.
But Nkwazi, who have Lotti Nyimbili, Steward Chikandiwa and Chipungu Musukuma will be out to avoid a second consecutive defeat.
Nkwazi lost 1-0 loss to Forest Rangers last Saturday.
Nkwazi have 38 points
ARROWS v BUFFALOES
Green Buffaloes should beat Red Arrows to maintain their slim chances of returning to continental football next season.
Defeat will see the soldiers out of contention for continental football.
Buffaloes will look to skipper Christopher Katongo, Friday Samu and Sebastian Mwansa to maintain their nine-match unbeaten run.
Arrows will count on Lubinda Mundia, Bruce Musakanya and Shadreck Malambo to end Buffaloes continental football ambitions.
Arrows have 38 points, eight behind Buffaloes.
RANGERS v EAGLES
After losing 1-0 to relegation-threatened Nakambala Leopards, Nchanga Rangers will seek to bounce back when they host Green Eagles.
Coach Fighton Simukonda will unleash Felix Nyaende and Fashion Sakala while Eagles will look to Mwila Phiri Jr and Mathews Tembo to push Rangers closer to the exit door.
Eagles have 33 points, six better than Rangers.
In Chililabombwe, Konkola Blades entertain Lusaka Dynamos while Forest Rangers host National Assembly at Ndola’s Dola Hill Ground.