OTIENO: OVER WHEN IT’S OVER!

Only four games remain before the close of what has been an agonizing 2022/23 MTN Super League campaign for the giants of the Zambian game.

At week 30, Zanaco excruciatingly sit 13 places from the top of the league table while ZESCO United occupy eighth position. Last year’s league champions, Red Arrows are a shadow of what they were a season ago sitting in sixth position while Power Dynamos fiercest rivals, Nkana are roaming in tenth place.

These teams particularly United, Nkana, and Zanaco have for the last two decades enjoyed the pecks that come with playing continental football and winning the country’s coveted domestic title.

The league title though not yet decided is heavily poised to be clad in yellow ribbons with Dynamos desperate to end their 13-year trophy drought.

Aba Yellow will tomorrow afternoon date their cross-town bitter rivals, Nkana at the Arthur Davies stadium in what is expected to be a crunching tie for the Kitwe giants.

Dynamos only need four points from the last four games to secure a seventh league title with Nkana being their first detractor.

The narrative is not so similar for ZESCO United who have for the last 13-years won six league titles with easy.

United sit frantically in eighth position with 43 points, five short of second placed Green Buffaloes who they lost to last weekend.

With title ambitions completely obliterated, the nine times league champions have their hearts and minds firmly focused on finishing second.

Kenyan international shot stopper, Ian Otieno still believes United have what it takes to finish second.

“It was unfortunate to lose to Green Buffaloes but in football these things happen. That loss hasn’t destabilized us in any way. We know if we win the last few games, we will be able to play continental football. That is our focus.

We are taking each game as a cup final. As a team we have our objectives and if you look at the table, nothing is conclusive especially for teams fighting for second position. There is a chance that other teams will lose matches.”

Otieno says United will not underrate Chambishi when the two teams come face-to-face at the Nkana stadium in Kitwe on Sunday.

“Chambishi maybe fighting relegation but we know what they are capable of. We need to win that game to enhance our chances of playing continental football. It has been a tough season for everyone who is part of the team. When you perform poorly no one wants to be associated with you. We will do better next season because we have a solid squad which has started taking shape.

Author: Desmond Katongo