SUPER SHOWDOWN

…as ‘big boys’ Zanaco, Nkana face off

SOCCER

fans are in for a mouth-watering treat today as two of the country’s top teams, “Sensational Zanaco FC hosts Nkana at Lusaka’s Sunset Stadium in a rescheduled Week-1 fixture.

After picking two consecutive draws and two defeats in the opening four games of the MTN/FAZ Super League, Zanaco’s quest to get their first win of the season continues today.

It will be an emotional day for the ankers’ coach Kelvin Kaindu who faces his former employers six months after he was axed at Nkana FC.

With soccer fans expected to return today, Kaindu is expecting an explosive fixture as both sides will fight hard to bank three points.

“It is a crucial game, I think also FAZ allowing fans to come and support their teams will show, with the following Nkana has, we expect a lot of fans and it is a crucial game for us we haven't started very well.

“We have dropped a number of points, two losses and two draws and playing at home we need to put in our best,” Kaindu said.

He said the absence of players such as Moses Phiri who is with the national team will present the other players the chance to play and perform.

Zanaco are bottom on the 18-team Super League table with two points and a win over Nkana who will be without their head coach Beston Chambeshi may propel them to five points.

Meanwhile, Nkana assistant coach George Chilufya will seek to prove that the team can perform without

Chambeshi who has proven to be of great importance to the team which seems to have no direction when the head coach is away on national team duty.

Nkana has lost all the two games played in the absence of Chambeshi who guided the Kitwe outfit to beat Kabwe Warriors and Red Arrows in the club’s two wins of the season.

Nkana are ninth on the Super League table with seven points and a win over Zanadco may send them into fourth on the log standings.

In other Super League games scheduled for today, Red Arrows will fight for their second win when they host Kansanshi Dynamos.

After beating Green Eagles 1-0 in their last game thanks to Chris Sakulanda’s goal, Chisi Mbewe’s charges will seek maximum points to move into the top 10 on the Super League table.

At Indeni Sports complex in Ndola, Kabwe Warriors begin life without head coach Manfred Chabinga with a date against Indeni FC.

With Chabinga out of the picture after his resignation on Tuesday, coach Ian Bakala will be on the touchline to lead Warriors as he waits to be confirmed as head coach by the club’s executive committee .

Motivated by their 2-1 win over Konkola Blades, Warriors will seek to maintain a winning streak against an Indefi side that will be without coach Mwenya Chipepo who left Indeni for a top job at Power Dynamos FC.

Indeni were impressive under Chipepo picking two wins, two draws and only one defeat to defending champions Zesco United.