Sun, 02 Apr 2017 09:32:22 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
NKANA Football Club’s prowess of scooping its 13th league title comes under scrutiny this afternoon when they take on 5-times league champions Zesco United in the Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Charity Shield final at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
On the books, Zesco United appear to have the upper hand over the Wusakile boys.
The two have met six times in all competitions since 2014 with Zesco United having four wins, one draw and one loss.
Last time the two teams met in the MTN/FAZ Super division, it was Nkana who reigned supreme when the then Aggrey Chiyangi tutored Kalampa overcame Zesco 3-2 and ended the jinx of losing to the Ndola giants since 2010. Today’s fixture between Nkana and Zesco United will determine which team was likely to dominate the 2017 soccer season. And speaking in an interview after Nkana slaughtered Zanaco 3-0 in the Charity Shield’s semi-final on Thursday, Coach Zeddy Saileti said he was expecting a different game when the two teams meet in today’ s final. “It will be a different ball game therefore we have to work hard. It is the final, so anything can happen, any team can win it,
“We have gone through to the finals, I think we have achieved what we wanted and we will be ready for the league,” he added.
Meanwhile Zesco coach Zlatko Krmpotic believes his team has what it takes to scoop the club’s third Charity Shield.
“We got a good result against Power but we can do better in the final,” said Krmpotic after the 4-2 bashing of Power.
Krmpotic will be without striker Jackson Mwanza who sustained an injury in a clash with Power defender Billy Mutale. Zesco may also miss the services of midfielder Misheck Chaila and defender Simon Silwimba, who both missed the Charity Shield semifinal nursing injuries ahead of the Nigeria outing next week.
Proceeds from Charity Shield tournament are donated by the republican President to the charity organisations of his choice on behalf of the Zambian football family under the guidance of the FAZ.
