ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
This was not the sort of script that Mumamba Numba and his players envisioned prior to the start of the Zambian League season for the 2022/23 edition.
It was neither a thought that the ZESCO United faithful could have entertained at any given time.
The expectation to win every game is always big at ZESCO United. Its almost like a birthright for TeamYaziko supporters who for the last decade have wined and busked in glory, collecting nine glamorous league titles in the process.
A 1-all draw against Prison Leopards and the recent 0-1 defeat at the hands of the league defending champions, Red Arrows caps ZESCO United’s scorecard since the league started a week ago.
ZESCO United have traditionally been slow league starters. Their momentum builds as the season matures.
During the 2020/21 league season, ZESCO United started in similar fashion, drawing 1-all against Napsa before losing 0-1 to Forest Rangers in the Ndola derby.
It looked like a nightmare start for Numba who had just succeeded veteran coach, George Lwandamina. That season ended in style for ZESCO United who went on to claim their ninth league title with a sixteen-point gap.
With only two games played from the expected 34, these results will surely not fool those who have been ardent followers of Zambian football.
ZESCO United versus Red Arrows has become one of the biggest league games in recent years.
Last Saturday’s match had all the ingredients one would expect from a well-cooked meal. This was a date between Zambia’s envoy’s in the CAF Champions league and the Confederations Cup.
This was a meeting of two foes who behind the scenes have come to admire each other’s success.
Although Red Arrows maybe seven titles away from equaling ZESCO United’s nine, they have courageously and intelligently built a team that clearly understands how to hurt their opponents when they least expect.
Chisi Mbewe has been at the heart of driving the Airmen to their second league title assisted by what one may term as a Technical Director. Osward Mutapa is the man anchored with the Eagles eye to prey on teams’ weaknesses.
Mutapa is the man who sits in the terraces analyzing their opponent’s strength and weaknesses feeding Mbewe with accurate data which the latter implements with perfect precision.
In his pre-match comments, Numba described the weekends clash as an opportunity for ZESCO United to take revenge after last seasons home and away loses to the Airmen.
Numba was equally aware of the damage Arrows could cause if his defenders didn’t stop the champions daring movements from the wings.
ZESCO United started the match eager to silence the visitors by potentially getting a quick goal.
A quick interchange of passes between Kelvin Kampamba and John Chingandu saw the latter release a perfect pass to Songa Chipyoka whose shot on target was blocked by the Arrows defense.
In the 19’ minute Kampamba saw his perfectly floated free kick saved by a brave Kenny Mumba who was having a very busy opening.
Kampamba came back again with a 27’ minute well-crafted cross which Alfred Leku failed to make contact with to the frustration of the home supporters.
Chipyoka’s intelligent runs from the wings saw the former Lusaka Dynamos attacking midfielder with acres of space on the right wing before unlocking a powerful long range shot which was again saved by Mumba.
Red Arrows momentarily sucked in the pressure waiting to pounce on any opportunity which was going to come their way.
With 37’ minute on the clock, Red Arrows came to life using their fast wingers who managed to outmaneuver the ZESCO United midfield before releasing the ball to Ricky Banda whose initial cross into the box was blocked by Solomon Sakala.
Sakala’s block unfortunately fail into the path of Tshimenga who was able to guide the ball back to Banda before the latter released an exquisite pass to a lurking Saddam Phiri.
Phiri’s first touch took out Donashano Malama and Sakala before releasing a powerful shot which went past Ian Otieno to put the Airmen in the driving seat.
This was a typical Arrows goal, which is often a mixture of fast counterattacking football using their wings, precision passing and clinical finishing. It was a simulation of what they had just done 2 minutes earlier.
ZESCO United responded in the 42’ minute with Kelvin Kampumbu’s effort which went inches over the bar.
The host came backing fighting in the second half with the first chance falling to Kizito Keziron whose shot inside the box was blocked by the Arrows defense with Sikombe’s follow through also cleared.
A 72’ minute well floated cross from Jack Ngulube was cleanly headed on target by Enock Sakala but Mumba denied the hosts an equalizer with a great save.
Under pressure to get an equalizer, ZESCO United committed a lot of bodies in front a decision which almost backfired.
Red Arrows responded with another daring counter attack which saw Clement Mwape and Mayembe caught out of position with both Ricky Banda and Joseph Phiri charging forward at lightning speed.
Banda managed to square a sumptuous pass back to Phiri who had only the goalkeeper to beat. An outstretched Otieno managed to stop Phiri’s effort with his left leg.
ZESCO United had one last bite at the cherry with Sakala releasing a good cross which Chitiya Mususu failed to guide on target. Mususu’s header went agonizingly wide.
Red Arrows managed to hold on to the lead maintaining their edge over ZESCO United in the last three meetings.
Numba’s reaction to the loss: “The general performance of the team was very good. We accounted for ourselves very well. Though we made a few errors at the back which our opponents could have capitalized on early in the game but Otieno kept us out of trouble.
“We need to improve on our finishing so that we can start scoring. We are happy that there is progress in terms of the general play. We are not worried because this is part of football.”
Numba went on to say: “We need to pick ourselves up and forge ahead. I think that’s how football is. Sometimes you can use certain players and they fail to perform. Today we tried to adjust by starting with two strong holding midfielders. We did control the game, but they were too slow in joining the attack that is why we brought in two attacking midfielders in the second half.”
The ZESCO United coach believes Red Arrows have been very clinical in capitalizing on his side’s mistakes.
“They have always capitalized on our small mistakes. Every time we make a mistake, they turn it into a goal. It is something we need to work on generally. The team is ready for continental games. We have seen today that we have assembled a very good team.”
Numba added that it was too early to make assumptions on a potential league winner: “I don’t think this win gives Arrows the edge over us because there are a lot of games to play. Both teams handled themselves very well and showed that they can go an extra mile in CAF.”
Like Numba has said, it is too early to make a call on the league, but it may also be a grave mistake not to pick points from potential title contenders like Red Arrows.
Last season ZESCO United lost the league after six precious points were pickpocketed from them by Red Arrows. The Airmen may attempt to do just the same this time around.
One draw and one loss from two games may not be the start that ZESCO United stakeholders might have hoped for especially after having splashed funds in the transfer window which has seen eight players move to the Ndola based league giants.
What ZESCO United needs is a strong reaction this troubling start to the new campaign. A convincing win at Nkwazi will give the team that much needed confidence.
With eight new players at his disposal, one hopes that Saturday’s defeat has given Numba an idea of his best starting eleven.
ZESCO United will be hoping to put up a stellar performance when they face the Zambia Police Service sponsored Nkwazi on Saturday at the Edwin Mboela stadium.
Author: Desmond Katongo
