ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
ZESCO United are 2020/2021 Zambian league champions elect after beating Napsa Stars 2-0 in the FAZ/MTN Super League week 19 rescheduled fixture played today at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium, Ndola.
A 39’ minute goal from Kenyan international striker Jesse Were and an 80’ minute strike from Kelvin Kampamba ensured that the coveted Zambian league trophy heads back to Ndola after making a temporal stopover in Kitwe’s Wusakile township.
Numba Mumamba becomes the fifth ZESCO United coach to have his name enshrined in the annals of the club’s history after guiding the Ndola based league giants to their ninth league title.
Wedson Nyirenda become the first coach to win ZESCO United’s first two league titles in 2007 and 2008 followed by the late Fighton Simukonda in 2010 before George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina cantered away with four titles to his name in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019.
Tenant Chembo would also inscribe his name among the successful managers to manage the club by winning the coveted title in 2017.
ZESCO United have won this year’s league season in style by trotting away with the 2020/2021 championship with three games to spare having opened an eleven-point gap between themselves and second placed Zanaco Football Club.
This has been a remarkable season for the champions which has seen young, old, experienced and inexperienced players combine to deliver the club’s prestigious ninth league triumph in style.
Enock Sakala (20-years), Chanda Mukuka (20-years), Luwawa Kasoma (16-years), Samson Mkandawire(24-years), John Chishimba (19-years), and Samuel Sikaonga (21-years) have yet again reminded the football community that young players can be the difference between winning and losing titles.
Before today’s title deciding encounter, Sakala scored some crucial goals at the finest hour. Kasoma delivered some jaw dropping goals when one least expected.
Chanda was a beauty to watch. He dazzled teams with some fine footwork and a level of ingeniousness that could have earned him a place at Barcelona’s La Masia de Can Planes.
Sikaonga stood firm in the middle of park whenever he was charged with the responsibility to protect the heart of the team. Mkandawire and Chishimba delivered every time they were called upon.
Kelvin Kampamba was a beast on the ball and delivered crucial goals for the side at very crucial moments.
This has been a team effort from a side that 12 months ago looked a shadow of themselves.
At the core of this success is Mumamba who after parting ways with Zanaco Football Club sought refugee at the country’s biggest football institution.
ZESCO United had a wobbly start to this year’s league campaign failing to deftly and consistently record victories even against some of the minnows of the Zambian game.
However, once the team hit top gear, they become an eyesore to every opposing team they faced.
Between February, and May 2021, ZESCO United managed to amass 30 points after recording 10 consecutive league victories against some of the finest teams in the Zambian game, setting a new club record in the process.
ZESCO United’s players have been uncompromising in a season where officiating of matches leaves much to be desired.
Mumamba and his technical staff have undoubtedly re-energized and reinvigorated this ZESCO United side which last season had lost the touch and oomph of a side which years earlier was once known to easily chisel its’ way through its opponents like a hot knife through butter.
Tonight, the friendly and beautiful city of Ndola will be lit with jubilations which rocked Kitwe when relegation threatened Nkana Football Club won the 2019/2020 league season under very controversial circumstances.
Well done Zega Mambo! Well done Team Yaziko!
#WeAreUnited
About the Author: Desmond Katongo is the Public Relations and Media Officer of ZESCO United Football Club. He is also the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Media Officer.
