Top four eye Charity Shield

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:29:52 +0000

By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA

SUPER League champions Zanaco coach Mumamba Numba says the bankers will be ready for Nkana when the two clash in the semi-final of the Samuel “Zoom” Charity Shield on March 29 in Kitwe.

The Charity Shield marks the official start of the Zambian football league regular season and will see title holders Power Dynamos take on Zesco United in the other semi-final.

According to a communique, signed by FAZ head of administration and competitions Julio Chiluba, the four teams will renew their rivalry when they clash in this prestigious tournament.

“As you all know the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity competition marks the opening of each football season. The competition teams are the top three on the previous season’s Super Division league table and the winner of the previous year’s Barclays Cup competition.

“Since Zesco United FC also won the Barclays Cup, the fourth-placed club on the 2016 Super Division league table, Power Dynamos Football Club, qualified for the 2017 Samuel ’Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield,” Chiluba said. Numba said he was expecting a tough competition from their arch rivals Nkana. The team was last year booted out of the tournament after losing 1-0 to Green Buffaloes.

“It is a fair draw for us and we will prepare well. We will not underrate Nkana because it has always given us a tough run,” he said.

He said the target was ‘‘definitely to win the title’’.

Power coach Dan Kabwe said the team will not relent in defending the title.

“It will not be easy to overcome Zesco. What is important for us is to train hard to defend the title,” he said.

This will be Nkana’s return after missing the 2015 and 2016 editions.

Power reached the finals of the 2016 edition, beating Zesco 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The Kitwe giants went on to beat Green Buffalos 2-0 to emerge victors.

Proceeds of the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield are donated by the Republican President to a charity of his choice on behalf of the Zambian football family.

Meanwhile, Zesco yesterday left for Burundi for the CAF Confederation Cup encounter against Le Messager Ngozi to be played at Stade Prince Louis Rwagasore in Bujumbura tomorrow.