LUPOPO TAKES STING OUT OF UNITED, NAPSA CLASH

Football is not short of surprises, madness and chaos on and off the pitch. In-fact it’s these ingredients that makes the sport an addictive global brand. This week we have been treated to yet again another rhythm of total surprise, madness and chaos brewed beyond the borders of Zambia.

The sounds of madness and chaos this time around have originated from the soul and heartbeat of fine Rhumba, Democratic Republic of Congo engulfing the simple, rich tones of amantyantya, shonongo, fwandafwanda, and amayenge from Zambia.

What started as a rumor a few days ago has finally come to reality. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) yesterday confirmed what ZESCO United management and fans feared the most.

The FAZ announced the change of venue for Sundays MTN Super League week 24 double header fixture between ZESCO United and Napsa Stars and Buildcon against Lumwana Radiants from Nodla’s Levy Mwanawasa stadium to Kitwe’s, Nkana stadium.

According to FAZ Premier League Manager Brian Mulenga, the decision to move the game from Ndola to Kitwe has been necessitated by Sunday’s CAF Confederations Cup Group A match between FC Saint Eloi Lupopo of Congo and Marumo Gallants of South Africa to be staged at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium on the same day.

“The Week 24 Televised fixture scheduled for Sunday 19th February 2023 will be played at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, with matches to be played in the following sequence and times: Buildcon FC vs Lumwana Radiants will play first at 1300 Hours; ZESCO United vs NAPSA Stars FC will complete the program and play at 1500 hours.

“This has been necessitated by Levy Mwanawasa Stadium being reserved for CAF Interclub Competition by a team from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo during the weekend of February 17th to 19th 2023,” Mulenga said.

However, reality is that FC Saint Eloi Lupopo’s CAF Confederations Cup Group A home matches have been moved to Zambia because the Congolese traditional venue Stade Frederic Kibassa Maliba based in Lubumbashi does not meet CAF specifications to host international competitive matches.

Unfortunately for Lupopo the other alternative venue based in Kinshasa, Stade des Martyrs also failed the CAF test. Interesting too, is the fact that within Lubumbashi, CAF has certified stade TP Mazembe stadium, which belongs to Lupopo’s sworn and traditional enemies TP Mazembe which some sources claim has necessitated Lupopo’s request to play their matches far from home.

This unforeseen turn of events has had huge ramifications back in Zambia with ZESCO United’s scheduled match against Napsa Stars being airlifted from Ndola to Kitwe by the FAZ. United’s request to play this fixture at Trade Fair Grounds, the club’s historic home ground was shot down by the football authorities despite the facility staging Buildcon’s home league matches.

United’s Head Coach George Lwandamina was hopeful FAZ would not entirely take away the touch of playing at home at a time when his team desperately needs its backyard supporters. A shift to Kitwe will be more thrilling to Perry Mutapa and his squad especially that playing at Nkana will be like playing at a neutral venue.

Unfortunately for Lwandamina and his squad, they will have to quickly come to terms with the reality of being subjected to playing three consecutive matches away from home.

Apart from being deprived the privilege of playing before their home supporters, United is likely to feel the huge financial implications of playing three consecutive league matches on the road.

Last week United drew 1-1 against Power Dynamos, at Kitwe’s Arthur Davies stadium. This Sunday, United will yet again be on the road to Kitwe to fulfil their week 24 fixture against Napsa before taking a long journey down South to play FC MUZA in Mazabuka on Saturday next week.

Lwandamina will be hopeful that this week’s chaos that has engulfed the Zambian game pumps great confidence in his squad and lead to a victory when the nine times league champions meet the pensioners at Nkana stadium.

Author: Desmond Katongo