ZESCO bag Charity Shield

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:13:03 +0000

ZESCO United yesterday clinched the 2017 Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Charity Shield after beating Nkana 2-0 in a mouth-watering encounter played at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.

Two second half goals from John “the Baptist” Ching’andu were enough to hand new coach Zlatko Krmpotic his first silverware at the power utility-sponsored outfit who are also chasing for continental glory after finishing second in the elite league last season.

Zesco started the game on a brighter note which saw them shoot 11 times at goal compared to Nkana’s paltry three before half time but still failed to break the jinx despite a lion’s share of possession in an ill-tempered match punctuated by fouls.

Zesco came from the break more purposeful and only lasted a minute into the second before they broke the deadlock through Ching’andu who shook the net with a sublime strike with 46 minutes played.

The worst was yet to come for Nkana as their skipper Donashano Malama was given matching orders in the 58th minutes later after he was adjudged to have intentionally stepped on Ben Adama Banh’s stomach before hitting his head in a studs-up affair but Malama protested the decision and temporarily refused to leave the field of play until he was escorted out of the pitch by officials.

Ching’andu then inked his name on the scoresheet for the second time when he released a thunderbolt which sizzled past two defenders before soaring into the net to silence the Nkana supporters who were still cursing the referee for sending off Malama for a crude foul on Banh.

Nkana came close to scoring a consolation goal when Walter Bwalya went past two Zesco defenders but saw his shot cascading agonisingly off the upright in the 76th minute.

And speaking after the match, Krmpotic said he was proud of his team’s achievement saying the Charity Shield final was a good preparation game as the team was getting ready to take on Enugu Rangers in the CAF Confederation cup Enugu Rangers in the CAF Confederation Cup 2nd round first leg.

“I am very proud of my team. This win is not just for me but the whole team as well. Congratulations to my boys, they played good football and to Nkana too for giving us a good game. Today’s game was good as we prepare to take on Enugu Rangers in next weekend’s fixture of the CAF confederations cup,” Krmpotic said.

Nkana head coach Zeddy Saileti said he was proud of his boys despite losing the charity shield final saying his team had learnt something from the loss to Zesco as it prepared for the 2017 MTN/FAZ supper league.

“We tried our best in today’s game. We played against a tough side and I believe my boys have learnt one or two things from the loss,” Saileti said.

Proceeds from the match will be given to President Edgar Lungu to donate to a charity
organization of his choice.