Barclays Cup semis kick off today

Sat, 15 Oct 2016 10:59:10 +0000

THE lucrative Barclays Cup- today enters the semi-final with Zanaco facing Nkana while four time champions Zesco United take on Power Dynamos at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe. The match between Zanaco and Nkana is expected to be an uphill battle because both teams have never won the Barclays Cup title before.

Nkana are making a return since the 2014 competition where they lost 3-0 to Zesco in the finals at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. The two sides have met twice this Super Division season with Zanaco beating Nkana 2-0 on July 2 at home in Lusaka (Sunset Stadium) but suffered a 4-2 defeat in the return leg in Kitwe at Nkana Stadium on August 26. The Kitwe side is targeting a maiden title and coach Aggrey Chiyangi  said yesterday that Nkana could not afford to lose at Arthur Davies. “It will be a tough game for both teams because each team is aiming for a maiden title. Zanaco is a strong side and the boys will need to be conscious in this game.

We can’t afford to lose the game in Kitwe, it is our home town. The boys are in shape and very focused,” Chiyangi said. Chiyangi will look to Simon Bwalya , Freddy Tshimenga, Walter Bwalya and Ronald Kampamba to continue their dominance on Zanaco. But coach Mumamba Numba has said Nkana were fearless and Zanaco is determined to reach the finals of the competition. Numba said; “ We will not underestimate Nkana but they are not intimidating.

We have prepared well and ready for the challenge. Our target is to win the title,” Zanaco has a shape frontline of Rodrick Kabwe, Aubrey Funga, Charles Zulu and a dependable defender skipper Ziyo Tembo. Meanwhile, in the other mouth-watering encounter at 15:00 hours, Zesco on paper is a better side compared to Power. “It is a tough match and our fans are expecting us to win. We failed to reach the finals last year, but that is in the past, it will be a different story. I believe we have prepared well,” Zesco coach George Lwandamina said. Zesco boasts of Jesse Were,Idriss Mbombo, Jackson Mwanza , Mwape Mwelwa and Clatous Chama to deliver victory.

Power coach Dan Kabwe who has already conceded defeat in the race for the Super League title is hoping to cover-up the wound by winning the third Barclays title. Winners of the 2016 Barclays Cup will get K300, 000 and K150,000 to the runners-up. The Coach of the Tournament will pocket K10, 000 with the Player of the Tournament getting K5, 000 while K1, 000 is for the Man-of-the-Match in each of the matches in this year’s competition.