ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
A 66’ minute goal from Forest Rangers striker, Chideu Thomas Brighton and a 70’ minute equalizer from ZESCO United’s defender Adrian Chama was all the two sides needed to settle the season’s 1st leg of the Ndola derby.
ZESCO United against Forest Rangers has become one of the most exciting and explosive rivalries to grace the Zambian game.
In recent years, this fixture has found its place side by side with the famous Kitwe derby involving Nkana and Power Dynamos or Nkana versus Kitwe United.
This season’s highly hyped and anticipated derby was played under the theme: “Breaking the five-year curse” especially for ZESCO United supporters who have for the last seasons agonizingly watched their bitter rivals emerge victorious at their own turf.
Although ZESCO United have had the last laugh on the road, the Team Ya Ziko followers religiously believe their side should be perpetual winners of both home and away encounters.
The pressure that comes with any derby could be evidently seen by the way both teams set up with both coaches opting for experience.
ZESCO United coach Numba Mumamba started with Ian Otieno between the sticks whilst Adrian Chama, Solomon Sakala, Simon Silwimba and John Chishimba were tasked to protect the hosts backline.
Donashano ‘Ichamilando’ Malama was deployed just behind Thabani Kamusoko and John Chinga’ndu.
Spencer Sautu, Jesse Were and Winstone Kalengo were deployed with specific instructions to cause damage to Forest Rangers backline.
The first half of the game didn’t produce much to write home about as both sides defended and attacked cautiously.
It took the 18’ minute for Forest Rangers Diego Apanane to threaten the ZESCO United goalmouth with a powerful shot that was parried by Otieno and later cleared by Chama.
ZESCO United came close in the 28’ minute with Chinga’ndu whose effort went off target after Forest Rangers goalkeeper, Allan Chibwe spilled the ball into the path of the former.
The second half started with both sides showing some major signs of opening the deadlock.
Forest Rangers were the first to test Otieno again with Chideu being a menace in the ZESCO United backline however his weak shot didn’t trouble the hosts goalkeeper.
With ZESCO United struggling to create scoring opportunities, Mumamba decided to withdraw Kenyan international striker, Jesse Were for Kelvin Kampamba.
Kampamba’s introduction made a big difference with the attacking midfielder causing serious threats to the visitor’s defense.
The attacking midfielders first touch and contribution to the game came in the 55’ minute when ZESCO united were awarded the first corner of the second half.
Kampamba unlocked a sumptuous cross that almost ended at the back of the net.
In the 63’ minute, Kampamba was at it again with his excellent charge towards the visitor’s defenders before releasing a sumptuous cross which Sautu failed to make meaningful contact with.
2’ minutes later, Forest Rangers took the lead through Chideu who stumbled across a loose ball after Otieno parried the initial shot to break the deadlock.
Chideu’s goal left the ZESCO United supporters wondering whether history was about to repeat itself.
However for Forest Rangers, Chideu 66’ minute goal only lasted briefly before ZESCO United responded with Kampamba’s marauding run into the visitor’s box only to be brought down for a penalty.
A calm Adrian Chama stepped up to convert one of his trademark penalties with Allan Chibwe diving in the wrong direction.
These two goals opened the match with both teams sensing the possibility of cantering away with three points.
In the 83’ minute, Kampamba provided another delightful ball in the visitors penalty box only for Sautu to head wide.
At fulltime the deadlock could not be broken leaving the hosts the happier side especially that history has hardly been in their favor.
This is what Mumamba had this to say after the Ndola derby stalemate: “I think it was an evenly contested match between the two sides. Both teams accounted for themselves very well but for us a point is good enough if you look at the team that we were playing. We were equal to the task.
“I also believe this is a fixture we should be dominating and winning because ZESCO United is a big team. This, I believe is the beginning of better things.
“I think we will need to push on from this performance by approaching future games with similar attitude. I agree that our conversion rate has been low, but we will continue pushing and sharpening our forwards.
“We are not too worried about other teams positions on the league table because we know our strengthens. All we need is to continue working hard and pushing for maximum points. We will soon be within the reach of other teams who are ahead of us.
“Today we told the team to work hard because a derby is not a small game to play. You need to be at your level best. They did that in the second half and almost won the game had we converted some of the shorts we had on target.”
ZESCO United will face Buildcon on Sunday at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium before travelling to Kabwe on Wednesday where they will face Prison Leopards in a rescheduled fixture.
Author: Desmond Katongo
