ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
It is confirmed! Maestro United Zambia FC (MUZA) will be the country’s envoy in the 2023/24 CAF Confederations Cup while league champions Power Dynamos are Champions league designate.
This development means, Zambia’s traditional powerhouses, ZESCO United, Nkana, and Zanaco will take a spectator’s role whilst Keith Mweemba’s side penetrate continental airspace seeking another fairytale in the harsh territorial waters of competitive African football.
MUZA FC have rode on their luck, in a season that has arguably signaled the waning standards of the Zambian league.
Power Dynamos were not at their clinical best but still managed to canter away with the league title. At one stage in the season, the champions went unchallenged despite recording five consecutive draws.
United’s first round of the season proved irksome to their follower despite having arguably the leagues most talented squad.
The 2016 CAF Champions League semi-finalists labored to find their feet leading to the change in management with George Lwandamina taking Mumamba Numba’s place.
“Chicken” George has worked wonders in the last four months managing to move the team from 12th to 3rd position. However, even he could not stop MUZA’s spirited run.
Zanaco have been a shadow of a club that seasons ago were the heartbeat of the country in the CAF Confederation Cup before United. They have been United’s spirited rivals in domestic football in the last decade.
However, this year’s league campaign has probably radiated the troubles at Zanaco with the bankers ending the season attempting to survive relegation. They have had to look to Wedson Nyirenda to survive the drop.
Nkana on the other hand, have similarly labored like their traditional rivals. Beston Chambeshi side will not be playing continental football next year owing to a dismal showing in this year’s season.
Yesterday’s matchday 33 started with news of the FAZ disciplinary committees’ decision to award MUZA FC three points following the disputed week 31 game against Red Arrows.
This decision meant that MUZA only needed to beat a struggling Zanaco side to confirm their place among Africa’s elite clubs that will battle out in CAF Confederations cup.
At the end of matchday 33, United’s victory over Nkana thanks to a Kelvin Kampamba goal proved a little too late for the Zambian league giants after MUZA beat Zanaco 2-1.
United’s last game is against their cross-town rivals Forest Rangers on May 27 at Dola Hill stadium.
CONGRATULATIONS POWER DYNAMOS AND MUZA FC
It has been a rollercoaster season for all the teams that have participated in the 2022/23 league campaign.
Power Dynamos and MUZA FC have etched their names as the country’s top teams befitting a place at the highest level of African football.
Like the years before, we will all be supporting Power Dynamos and MUZA FC when these two sides carry the Zambian flag across the continent.
However, the task ahead should not be managed with the same approach that catapulted Dynamos to the summit of the Zambian game and MUZA to continental stardom.
Power Dynamos and MUZA FC will carry the nations expectations in CAF at a time when Zambia is longing to retain the lost CAF slots.
Nothing short of a spirited performance from our teams, especially Power Dynamos will energize our hopes of retaining the two places.
A spirited and professional performance on and off the pitch coupled with good investment in the two squads has the potential to deliver good results.
A big congratulations once more to MUZA FC and Power Dynamos. Further congratulations to the Football Associations of Zambia for managing another league season.
Author: Desmond Katongo
