ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
Zambian Super League defending champions, ZESCO United thrashed 2021 Absa cup champions, Lusaka Dynamos 4-0 to be crowned 2021 Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield champions in game played at the MTN Woodlands stadium, Lusaka on Saturday.
Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield is Zambia’s curtain raiser for the new league season which starts on the September 11 2021.
Pitted against an old foe who denied them access to a 7th Absa cup title, ZESCO United were in an uncompromising mood when they squared off with Lusaka Dynamos.
ZESCO United came into yesterday’s fixture without Kelvin Kampamba, Solomon Sakala, Dickson Chapa, and Simon Silwimba who are currently away with the National Team in Morocco.
If there was one man who saw the absence of the four as a blessing and not as an impediment to get to the promised land was coach Numba Mumamba.
Mumamba had declared to ZESCO United media department in the run up to yesterday’s final that the four presented an ideal situation for him to give the untested players an opportunity thrive.
Typical Mumamba style, the ZESCO United gaffer named two untested young players who had recently graduated from the club’s developmental teams to the senior side in his travelling contingent.
Albert Muobola, and Paul Banda had their lifetime dream of rubbing shoulders with ZESCO United star players come true whom two months ago were just idols they hardly thought they would share a dressing room with.
Mumamba’s starting XI was a mixture of youth and experience with Kenyan international goalkeeper, Ian Otieno commanding his place between the sticks deputized by Samson Banda.
At the back, Adrian Chama, Samson Mkandawire, Fackson Kapumbu and Clement Mwape cemented the backline.
In the middle of the park, Zimbabwean gifted attacking midfielders Tafadzwa Rusike and Thabani Kamusoko provided experience and intelligence while Chanda Mukuka and Logic Chinga’ndu unleashed pace and agility.
Chitiya Mususu and Jesse Were were charged with the responsibility of leading ZESCO United’s frontline.
With ZNBC’s ‘Jim Beglin’ Leonard Chibasa and ‘John Champion’ Patrick Nyangulu in the commentary box, the stage was set for an explosive Charity Shield final.
ZESCO United took charge of the game from the onset taking the lead in the first 3’ minutes of the match through Kenyan International striker Jesse Jackson Were who headed in the champions opener after receiving a sumptuous cross from Logic Ching’andu.
Chinga’ndu yet again unlocked a crisp pass to Mususu whose charge towards Dynamos goalmouth was only thwarted when FIFA referee Janny Sikazwe blew for an offside.
Lusaka Dynamos had their fair share of the opening exchanges responding through a clever effort from Sikombe that came off the ZESCO United upright.
That effort from Sikombe gave the Absa Cup champions impetus to charge forward with Chabula unlocking a powerful shot outside the ZESCO United penalty box that was quickly blocked by Adrian Chama.
In the 10’ minute Sikombe came back again with a long range drive that went over the bar to the comfort of Otieno.
Dynamos dominated the early proceedings and could have leveled matters through Songa whose effort went inches over the bar.
ZESCO United responded in fine fashion with Mkandawire releasing a beauty of a cross that was met by Ching’andu who unlocked a shot that came off the cross bar leaving Ndala helpless.
The gloves were out and knuckles laid bear with both teams going at each other’s throats like the 1975 Thriller in Manilla World Heavy boxing Championship fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Lusaka Dynamos responded to Chinga’ndus threat with a powerful close range shot unleashed by Mangenge only to be comfortably saved by an in form Otieno.
In the 38’ minute ZESCO United came close to doubling the lead with a powerful shot from Mukuka which proved too hot for Ndala to comfortably save.
A bad back pass from Lusaka Dynamos defenders fail into the path of Mukuka who easily guided the ball into the Lusaka Dynamos goalmouth to double the lead for the league champions.
Kenyan international striker Jesse Were bagged his brace of the day and ZESCO United’s 3rd goal after being put through by Chinga’ndu.
ZESCO United went into the break with a comfortable 3-0 lead that looked deceiving to the eye after a grilling and explosive first half for both teams.
Lusaka Dynamos begun the second half with some urgency looking for a crucial response to keep themselves into the game.
Binga came close twice in the 59 and 61 minutes with two powerful shots that were easily saved by Otieno.
Mumamba had seen enough of Chingandu and Were opting to replace the two with Albert Mubola and Enock Sakala in the 62’ minute.
In the 72’ minute Chisunga came close with a powerful effort that came off the upright leaving Otieno helpless.
Mumamba shuffled his cards yet again, bringing in Edward Lungu and Paul Banda relegating Chitiya Mususu and Tafadzwa Rusike.
With the game looking done and dusted, former Kitwe United winger, Lungu latched onto a cross from Sakala which the former happily tapped into the net beating Ndala to score his debut goal for the defending league champions.
ZESCO United put up a stellar performance which saw them beat Lusaka Dynamos 4-0 to be crowned 2021 Charity Shield champions for the 5th time.
Author: Desmond Katongo
