ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
It has been an overwhelming and depressing month for ZESCO United players and their faithful following a series of inconsistent results recently recorded in the MTN Super League.
ZESCO United have in the past one week lost two games on the trot, results that have seen the league giants drop from fifth position to ninth on the league table.
This spate of bad results has given birth to various inquests among the club’s followers, management and players.
While the search for solutions rages on, there is a silent success story that is almost being overshadowed by the erratic results being posted by the nine times Zambian Super League champions.
ZESCO Ndola Girls have been dispatching their opponents in the FAZ Women Super Division League with surgical beauty.
The league which kicked off last month has seen ZESCO Ndola Girls record astonishing results which have catapulted them to the summit of the league table having played six games thus far.
Coach William Zulu’s team has electrocuted their way to the top of the table having won all their six games scoring an avalanche of eighteen (18) goals, conceding none.
Tomorrow the Ndola based women’s league outfit will be up against Bauleni Soccer Academy in a week seven fixture to be played in Lusaka.
But what has been the secret to this level of success thus far?
“Last season was tough for us because of lack of depth in the team. We had a limited squad. This year we requested our sponsors to give us at least 30 players which they have delivered. This has brought competition and depth into the side leading to positive results,” Zulu said.
Zulu also attributes the team’s success to the sound sponsorship the club has received from ZESCO Limited through ZESCO United football club and the desire to play CAF Women’s Champions League.
“Because of the sound motivation we are receiving from our sponsors and the need to play CAF Women’s Champions League, the girls are working hard. We have everything today. Money is there, sponsorship is there. I think we are on the right track. If we can win ten games, then I will know that we are heading in the right direction.”
The spirit and desire to conquer teams is not only as a result of the sound financial support ZESCO Ndola Girls are receiving from ZESCO Limited.
Zambia’s recent showing at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where the Copper Queens finished third and secured qualification to next years FIFA Women’s World Cup has had a positive impact on the girls.
“These girls want to play at the national team because they have seen what Avel Chitundu has done and achieved. They are extremely motivated to do well and that has brought competition here. I am positive that in a year, most of them will be featuring for the Zambia Women’s National Team.”
And ZESCO Ndola Girls captain Melody Kipimpi shares Zulu sentiments: “We are a highly motivated squad because we want to win titles. We are also driven by the success our colleagues like Avel Chitundu has achieved at the National Team. I believe with time, we will all get there. Our target this year is to win the league title. We have learnt from our past mistakes.”
Zulu’s initial target for the girls was to win the first five opening league games a feat which they have achieved with flying colours.
“Our target was to win five games which we have done. Our next target is to win the next five games so that it brings us to ten. We will then build on these steps. The girls are determined, and we are taking every game as it comes. We have been successful so far owing to consistency in training,” he said.
Author: Desmond Katongo
