ZESCO UNITED AIM TO SET A STRONG TONE AHEAD OF CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST LEG ENCOUNTER

ZESCO United are back in the coveted CAF Champions League after going a season without tasting the continent’s most prestigious competitions.

The nine-times Zambian Super League Champions spent an entire season watching in awe and envy a new look of Zambian teams play first class football at continental level.

Napsa Stars, Forest Rangers were the country’s envoy in Africa’s most celebrated CAF inter-club competitions.

ZESCO United lost what has for the last two decades looked like a birthright to qualify for Africa’s interclub competitions after finishing outside the top four teams in the 2019/20 football season in controversial circumstances.

This bitter ending to the 2019/20 league season led to a wholesale of changes at the club on and off the pitch.

Last season ZESCO United cantered away with the Zambian League title in style winning a ninth league title, beating the closest rival Zanaco with 16 points marking their return to continental football in style.

Tomorrow ZESCO United will begin their journey in the 2021/22 CAF Champions League preliminary first leg encounter away to Royal Leopards of Eswatini.

This will be Numba Mumamba’s first CAF champions league match as ZESCO United coach after successfully guiding the Ndola based league giants to a ninth league title in his debut season.

Mumamba has carried a strong 20-member squad ahead of what promises to be an exciting match for both teams.

ZESCO United have been busy in the transfer window bringing in five new players who are expected to help the team mount a strong challenge both in the local league and CAF interclub competition.

Tomorrow ZESCO United face Royal Leopards of Eswatini in the CAF Champions League preliminary stage first leg encounter scheduled for Mavuso stadium, Manzini, Eswatini.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers:

Ian Otieno

Samson Banda

Defenders

Fackson Kapumbu

John Chishimba

Adrian Chama

Clement Mwape

Solomon Sakala

Simon Silwimba

Midfielders

Donashano Malama

Dickson Chapa

Tafadzwa Rusike

Thabani Kamusoko

Chanda Mukuka

John Ching’andu

Edward Lungu

Kelvin Kampamba

Strikers

Jesse Were

Enock Sakala

Chitiya Mususu

Winstone Kalengo

Author: Desmond Katongo