ATLAS MARA EXTOLS ZESCO UNITED WINNING RUN

ZESCO United’s 2019/2020 FAZ/MTN league season ended on a low. The club surrendered their league title to Nkana Football Club and further failed to book a ticket in Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions.

This was the first time since 2012 that ZESCO United were not going to be among the continents elite teams that would be competing in two of the continent’s prestigious competitions, CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation cup respectively.

Before last season’s disappointing performance, ZESCO United had won the league three-times successfully bringing the total number of league titles to eight since the club was founded in 1974.

They further won a sixth Absa cup title making the Ndola based super league side the record title holders of the competition.

ZESCO United’s success over the years can be alluded to the club’s sound organizational effectiveness and stable financial backing from its sponsors.

The club’s management has been prolific in moving with modern trends of managing a professional football club. This feat is evident through their sound player recruitment strategy and in their pursuit for good corporate sponsorship.

ZESCO United remains one of the most professionally and successfully run football clubs in the land in recent years.

Last season’s league misfortune unsettled the landscape. ZESCO United management took drastic measures ahead of the 2020/2021 league season all aimed at breathing some life into the team with great hopes of returning the league title.

There was a change at the technical bench with coach Numba Mumamba taking over from George Lwandamina.

A horde of players made their way to ZESCO United while others saw their stay at the club come to an end.

Off the field of play, Atlas Mara Bank, ZESCO United’s official shirt sponsor also committed its sponsorship to the club with a 2 million kwacha 1-year shirt sponsorship extension.

Atlas Mara bank made this heartwarming and patriotic gesture at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease that has claimed millions of lives world over bring both social and economic activities to a grinding halt and further making the cost of doing business for most corporate institutions unbearable.

The 2020/2021 league season has gone past the half way mark and ZESCO United are unrelentless and ruthless in their pursuit for a ninth league title.

Numba Mumamba’s tutored side have thus far won seven consecutive games accumulating 46 points, and opening a seven-point gap at the top of the league table.

The Ndola based league giants look set to reclaim the title provided they sustain their recent run with only 12 games to spare before the league ends.

ZESCO United are also in contention for a seventh Absa cup title with a semi-final match against Konkola Blades to be staged at Kitwe’s Arthur Davies stadium, on Saturday.

The club’s recent impressive run in form has not gone unnoticed from their official shirt sponsor, Atlas Mara Bank.

“This is the fourth year we have partnered with ZESCO United. Last year the season ended badly, prematurely to say the least because of the COVID-19. When ZESCO United came back to renegotiate the contract, we didn’t hesitate because we believe in this team. We share the same values of hard work and excellency.

As you can see, the acquisition of Numba Mumamba, a very experienced coach has had some profound effect on the team. He has molded the team around a good crop of players which includes young and old experienced players,’’ Atlas Mara bank head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Eric Ngondo said.

Ngondo said the Bank will continue to render support to ZESCO United because of the professional way the club continues to be managed.

“The value for us has always been there from ZESCO United. It is a professional club with good professional standards and a solid management system which are the key foundations to a successful football team.

These ingredients have had a huge bearing on the field. This is the more reason the team has been very successful over the years,” Ngondo added.

Meanwhile, Ngondo has backed ZESCO United to win both the league title and Absa cup competition.

“Firstly, we want to give credit to the technical bench and players including management for what they have thus far achieved. The team is on course to win the title and are also in the semi-finals of the Absa Cup.

For us the crucial part is winning the league, which we feel is within reach. What they have done so far is no mean achievement especially that the Zambian league is among the top leagues in Africa. Opening a seven-point gap at this stage of the season is massive. We can’t wait to celebrate the league and Absa cup title triumph with them.”

He has further urged ZESCO United players to remain steadfast during the remaining few games of the season.

“Our word to the players is that they stay focused and disciplined. It is not time to relax but there is need to remain focused by listening to the coach. Mumamba has been there and done this before. He is one of the best coaches in the land. You can see that there is harmony in the team. It is also good to see young stars come through the team. The future looks bright. They have blended well with veteran players like Kalengo and Were which is a fantastic combination.”

And ZESCO United Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Richard Mulenga has commended club players and the technical bench on their recent seven games successful run.

Speaking after ZESCO United beat Green Buffaloes 0-1, Mulenga said management at the club is impressed with the work that coach Numba Mumamba and his technical bench have done since joining the team.

“It is always our target to compete at the highest level and win trophies. It was heartbreaking to lose the league in the way we lost it last season. However, we have to commend the players and the technical bench for a job well-done so far.

The league is not over yet but it is important to recognize the work Mumamba and his team have so far done at the club which is inline with what we stand for,” he said.

Mulenga has urged ZESCO United players not to relent until they achieve their goal of winning the title.

“You can see how determined they are to win the title they lost last season. This is visible through their conviction to want to win every game. As management that’s what we want to see from our players. We are urging them to remain focused until the last day of the season.”

Author: Desmond Katongo