Tue, 19 Sep 2017 13:35:27 +0000
By Grace Chaile Lesoesta
NATIONAL Assembly is confident of returning to the FAZ/MTN premier league despite losing 3-4 away to Happy Hearts on Sunday.
Assembly host Paramilitary this Saturday and only needs a point to secure promotion after demotion to lower ranks in 2015.
With only five games to go, Assembly leads Division One Zone One with 63 points while their closest rivals Lusaka City Council have 49 points.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, club vice secretary Kapota Mandandi said his team would aim for an outright win and nothing less.
Mandandi said the team had already set the motion for promotion to topflight football and would not allow any team to shatter the vision.
Assembly on Sunday missed an opportunity to win promotion with five games to spare when Happy Hearts beat them 4-3 in a week 25 fixture.
“We were ready to celebrate last Sunday, sadly we lost to Happy Hearts. This Saturday will be a day of reckoning as we secure a spot in the super division where we belong,” he said.
He encouraged the players to remain level headed and ensure they win the forth-coming game.
“We always say yesterday’s mistakes should be put behind and look ahead. The team should plan for their grand entry into super league this Saturday,” he said.
Mandandi said the club would begin preparations for the super league immediately their place was confirmed.
In other Division One results, Matero United lost 1-0 to Petauke United while Lusaka Tigers thumped Nampundwe 4-1 and Katete Rangers edged Young Green Buffaloes 2-1.
Zesco Malaiti drew 1-1 against Riflemen while Lusaka City Council beat Police College 1-0. Paramilitary and Wonderful played to a 1-1 draw and the clash between Lundazi United and Kafue Celtic was a walkover with a 3-0 score line in favour of Lundazi after the former failed to travel to Eastern province.
In Zone Two, Kitwe United maintained the lead on the log with 50 points after a 2-1 win over Gomes. Kansanshi Dynamos, who are a point behind Kitwe, thrashed Zesco Luapula 3-0.
Roan United bashed Chambishi with a similar score while Indeni beat recorded a 2-0 win against FQM Mining Operations and Kalulushi Modern Stars drew 2-2 with FQMO Roads.
