ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
Zambian FAZ/MTN Super League champions, ZESCO United yesterday failed to use home advantage when the Ndola based side drew 1-1 against Kansanshi Dynamos in a rescheduled week 25 fixture played at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
An own goal from ZESCO United’s Clement Mwape in the 50’ and a Jesse Were superb equalizer in the 72’ ensured that Dynamos walked away with a crucial point.
On any other day, ZESCO United was always going to be the favourite to carry the day. However, four months of no football was always going to have a bearing on the outcome of the match for both teams.
ZESCO United coach George Lwandamina bemoaned players lack of fitness in his pre-match comments.
“It is good that we have had a break to recover. However, the battle we face today is getting these players to maximum fitness for games, which I doubt will happen. At the moment we are rushing our programs in readiness for weekend fixtures.
I know my players have played a lot of games from the last campaign without resting which automatically leads to one’s body burning down. However, it’s not everyone who will be able to adjust and that applies to other teams too,” Lwandamina said.
Kansanshi Dynamos were the quickest off the blocks pinning ZESCO United in the first few minutes of the first half with some high pressing football.
Dynamos grew in the game and were the first ones to have a feel of the target through Walford Sikanyika, however his effort was comfortably thwarted by an alert Otieno.
The best opportunity of the first half however fail to ZESCO United. A quick interchange of passes between John Ching’andu and John Makwata saw the former shoot his effort wide at close range.
In the 25’, Were saw his effort from a free kick sail past the upright with Scotch Mwanza completely beaten.
In the 32’, Ching’andu was yet again in the limelight when he saw his effort saved at close range by Mwanza who was having a great day between the sticks.
Coach Lwandamina had started with possibly his strongest side. However, his game plan was later disturbed by two first half injuries on Adrian Chama who left the field with a head injury whilst Zimbabwean international midfielder Tafadzwa Rusike was later stretched off.
David Odhiambo, came in for Chama and Misheck Chaila replaced Rusike.
The second half resumed with both sides looking ambitious to break the deadlock. Unforutnately for the Champions, it was Dynamos who scored first through a Clement Mwape own goal when his effort to clear a well-crafted cross from Dynamos ended in the ZESCO United net.
In the 53’ Lwandamina made a double change with Enock Sabumukama replacing John Ching’andu while Logic Ching’andu came in for Mwape Mwelwa.
The two changes brought some oomph into the ZESCO United side and it didn’t take long before Logic put Mwanza to the test only missing by inches.
A mix-up in the Kansanshi Dynamos defense saw an alert Jesse Were latch on a poor clearance before coolly slotting home an equaliser in the 72’.
However, ZESCO United failed to salvage a possible three points as Dynamos defended supremely to the last minute.
ZESCO United lost an opportunity to go second with NAPSA, Eagles and Nkana yet to play. The Super League Champions have thus far moved to 4th position.
ZESCO United face Lusaka Dynamos on the 3rd of August at the National Heroes Stadium.
Author: Desmond Katongo
Is kamusoko still injured?
Looking forward to next game
Touch lucky bt the team has too many old n tired legs.
As long as we still start with old legs and leave the fresh legs on the sub bench will continue to strangle in the league.
Our squad need to be up graded
The problem is the team has too many old and tired legs, the Mabanga boys played coordinated football and were pressing our players who can not run, the passing from Zesco not to say the least was pathetic. How many more games do you need to realise that Lwandamina needs to be shown the door? Wadada can easily transform Zega.
Hard luck zesco United Fc… congratulations kansahi dynamos..
Zesco United timu ya ziko.