CHIPYOKA SHINES AS ZESCO UNITED BEAT NAPSA STARS

Last week, Mumamba Numba hinted on a possible team selection dilemma for the ZESCO United technical bench following the acquisition of arguably the finest talent the domestic game can offer.

Numba was referring to the young stars that have recently been added to the pool of his marquee signings.

18-year-old Songa Chipyoka is one such talent that has left Numba’s head spinning in all directions.

Chipyoka is a marvel to watch and will arguably be one if not the major reason fans will be trooping to the Levy Mwanawasa stadium when the 2022/23 football season begins on August 20, 2022.

Numba’s assertions came to life during the Four Club Preseason Tournament where the pint-sized little fellow made rings around the unsuspecting Green Eagles defenders led by the combative warren Kunda.

Chipyoka’s slalom moves caused massive mayhem for Kunda and company making the Eagles defenders look like amateurs.

The 18-year-old introduced himself to the ZESCO United fans after delivering a jaw breaking 18-yard free-kick that left Zanaco goalkeeper completely beaten.

2022 Absa Cup champions, Napsa Stars were the third team to dance to Chipyoka’s unfavorably hymns.

With ZESCO United trailing 0-1 to a Luka Banda goal, Chipyoka stepped up to dispatch another mind boggling free-kick that must have left both Numba and his opponent Perry Mutapa asking for a replay.

Chipyoka scored what is probably his trademark free-kick to level matters for the host who until then were overwhelmed by an ambitious Napsa Stars.

Both ZESCO United and Napsa Stars were using the friendly game to assess whether their squads have hit the highest fitness points before the start of the new campaign.

Napsa Stars dazzled and overwhelmed the ZESCO United defense through the ever-enterprising Jimmy Mukeya.

Ugandan and ZESCO United striker Alfred Leku was tightly marked by a Napsa Stars defense marshalled by David Owino Odiambo.

Gawking at a possible second defeat following an early beating in the first curtain raiser friendly match which Napsa Stars won by a 2-1 score line, Numba beseeched his side to find a breakthrough.

Numba deployed arguably ZESCO United’s pacey wingers to do the damage against a resilient Napsa Stars that humble Red Arrows 0-1 in the 2022 Absa Cup finals.

Like Chipyoka, Luwawa’s pint sized frame and speed was a serious nightmare for the visitor’s defenders to deal with.

At some point in the match, spectators couldn’t distinguish between Luwawa and Chipyoka because of their similar orgasmic movements that could have overwhelmed any defense at any given day and time.

Speed and precision passing were at the centre of the first move that led to the free-kick which was dispatched by Chipyoka with surgical beauty.

With less than 15 minutes to the end of the match, Chipyoka made another dazzling run beating his marker inside the penalty box only for the defender to settle for a careless challenge on the winger granting ZESCO United a penalty in the process.

ZESCO United defender Adrian Chama stepped up and dispatched one of the coolest penalties to give the hosts a deserved 2-1 victory.

It is worth highlighting that provided Chipyoka keeps his early momentum and remains injury free during the 2022/23 football season, ZESCO United will be the team to watch this campaign.

Author: Desmond Katongo