ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
If you went into a coma on August 10, 2020 the day Nkana were crowned 2019/2020 FAZ/MTN Super League champions, you will not want to know how events have unfolded in the 2020/2021 calendar season.
The league champions are a complete shadow of a team that cantered away with the prestigious Super league title in very controversial circumstances.
Can you believe that after 25 league games, the champions could be exchanging league survival notes with bottom placed Kitwe United and Lumwana Radiants?
Nkana lie second from the bottom of the league table with 25 points having played 25 league games with Kitwe United sitting at the bottom pit of the red zone while Lumwana Radiants are just inches above the 13 times league champions.
It has been a season of torrential series of challenges both on and off the pitch for the Wusakile Boys. A typical season to forget for Nkana’s die-hard supporters.
Compounded by the departure of their star players like Idriss Mbombo and Walter Bwalya, Nkana are in a swim or sink situation.
The inconsistences on the technical bench have also not helped matters with over four coaches overseeing the club’s recent misfortunes.
Between 2018 and 2020, Beston Chambeshi oversaw the team’s resurgence in the league and in CAF competitions before his marriage to Nkana ended abruptly.
Chambeshi’s assistant, Manfred Chabinga was then thrown into the hot seat. Chabinga’s reign though characterized by several on field challenges ended in triumph for Nkana following their 13th league title win and CAF qualification.
Despite guiding Nkana to a league victory, Chabinga’s joy at the top didn’t last long.
Like his predecessor, Chabinga was shown the door by Nkana management leading to the appointment of Kelvin Kaindu who also couldn’t last beyond the Group stage of the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup.
Fervent Nkana fans have a special Bemba saying: Umwana takulilanina meaning you will always be your mother’s child regardless of where you are or who you become in life.
This proverb is religiously used by Nkana supporters every time Beston Chambeshi makes a return at the famous ‘Chilata’ stadium, a place where he dazzled as a player and got his legendary status as one of the club’s greats.
This month Chambeshi yet again renewed his marriage vows to Nkana Football Club. The former Chipolopolo star player has thus far overseen one league defeat, a draw and recently a derby win away to Nkana’s fiercest rival, Power Dynamos.
On Sunday, Nkana beat Power Dynamos 0-2 in the famous Kitwe derby to give themselves some lifeline.
However, this Wednesday ZESCO United will be waiting patiently to remove a certain percentage of oxygen from Nkana’s life support machine.
ZESCO United have been ruthless in their quest to return the league title which they lost under very difficult circumstances to Nkana.
The current league leaders have thus far recorded 10 consecutive league wins putting themselves within reach of winning their ninth title.
This is arguably the worst time for the Wusakile Boys to meet Kelvin Kampamba and company.
ZESCO United coach, Numba Mumamba wants things to be wrapped up before the last few games of the season.
Mumamba is in a hurry to develop. As such, tomorrows game will be treated with the same kind of zeal and wrath that characterized the games that led to 10 consecutive league victories for the hosts.
The ZESCO United gaffer will be rallying his charges to collect maximum points before meeting Power Dynamos in another titanic clash scheduled for Saturday at Arthur Davies stadium.
Tomorrow ZESCO United hosts Nkana Football Club in the FAZ/MTN Super League week 30 encounter scheduled for the Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
Author: Desmond Katongo
