ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
It is now 33 days since Lazarus Kambole introduced himself to the Zambian game for the second time with a debut goal which didn’t only help ZESCO United claim a point away to Lumwana Radiants but also opened an avalanche of goals for the striker.
Kambole went on to score a brace in his second appearance in TeamYaziko colours when United hosted Green Eagles before bagging his fourth against Power Dynamos.
As Kambole was scoring his way back into the hearts and minds of United supporters, George Lwandamina was trying to plant a winning philosophy into a squad that had lost a touch of brilliance before the veteran gaffers third return.
A 1-1 draw against Lumwana Radiants felt like a loss for Lwandamina and his squad especially that United dominated much of the proceedings only to be undone by Josphat Kasusu who bagged a late equalizer with only 9’ minutes left to play.
Before meeting Lumwana Radiants, United’s scorecard read: two draws and a win. That stalemate in Solwezi would see the Ndola based league giants slaughter Green Eagles 3-0, before drawing 1-1 with Power Dynamos, sweeping aside Napsa Stars in a 2-0 thrilling encounter played in Kitwe at Nkana stadium.
Lwandamina’s seven match unbeaten run would eventually be broken by league newcomers, FC MUZA in a controversial game played at Nakambala stadium last Saturday.
United’s reconstruction project at the hands of Lwandamina has begun to radiant some semblance of progress especially if one looks at where the team was before the veteran gaffer shifted loyalty from Kabwe Warriors to the ninetimes league champions.
However, those who have paid respectable attention to Lwandamina’s orbit in the game will know that behind the heavy lenses, behind that tall intimidating figure, there is a man eager for consistency and positive results.
Lwandamina will be looking forward to seeing how his charges respond to last Saturday’s 1-0 setback at the hands of FC MUZA when they travel to Solwezi to face a different opponent at the second time of asking.
Kansanshi Dynamos presents United another opportunity to make up for the two points dropped when the side faced Lumwana Radiants in the same town.
Dynamos last three games radiates two losses and a draw. A date away to Green Eagles ended in a 3-1 loss while Power Dynamos silenced them at home to a tune of 1-3 before cantering away with a point against Napsa in a match played in Lusaka.
It is these stats that Lwandamina will be looking at when his charges attempt to unlock Dynamos on Saturday at Lumwana stadium.
Author: Desmond Katongo
