2019 Transitional Super League Preview:

A Team-By-Team Analysis

BY Bwezani Mbewe

What better way to nurse our failure to qualify to AFCON 2019. We shall have a lot of club football this year with two giddy anticipation and eager optimism that every new Super League season brings?

Debate is already raging amongst fans: Just how will the two groups of the super League bring entertainment? There is also a matter of playing in the water logged pitches ?

How will the newly promoted teams fare? And, now that Green Eagles showed everyone that top four is possible, Will another team emergeor it’s Green Eagles to knock on the African Safari.

Take note the Kitwe derby has nor been touched !

GROUP ONE

CIRCUIT CITY

Circuit City cruised to promotion from Division One last season and they deserve it, eventually finishing comfortably above second-place rivals Young Green Buffaloes.

But the Super League is a ruthless beast, and Circuit will need all their wits about them if they are to avoid being chewed up and spat out by the big boys.

They don’t have experience in the squad, but the biggest matter will be if they have enough quality? Its right getting back to Division One for me.
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GREEN BUFFALOES
Having maintained a place in the top four and participating in the CAF Champions League, Green Buffaloes will be looking to improve on last season’s third-place finish.

Nothing new is expected with Green Buffaloes because I don’t think the team will bring in players who will perhaps provide the strength in depth the team lacked lacked last year.

There is also danger that players like Diamond, Fellon maybe loaned out because from the grape vine, these players wants out.

Green Buffaloes will be lucky to finish in the top two of this group.
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KABWE WARRIORS

When Tenant Chilumba took charge of Kabwe Warriors last season , it was a team. that had just survived relegation in the 2017 season with Elijah Chikwanda , they were rock bottom of the Super League and seemed destined for yet more relegation heartbreak. But Tenant worked his managerial magic and miraculously guided the legendary rail men to an impressive 7th-place finish.

Make no mistake on how remarkable an achievement this was, for it was TC, but everything broke down after an impressive start to the season . Finishing in the top half of the table this time around would still be acceptable and it would exceed all expectations.

I think Kabwe Warriors is not ready to win anything and not even break into CAF.
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Kitwe United
Every season, one newly promoted club exceeds expectations, and Kitwe United were perhaps the best equipped last season. The vast majority of players stayed with the team from division one and they understood each other very well.
In Simon Mwansa, they have a coach who understands his players and has balanced the books and built a solid team. United has been relatively quiet in the transfer market thus far, but there are believed to be signatures from lower division and that’s the beauty of Kitwe united. They don’t go for bigger names but have eye for players that enhences team work.

The CAF slots are a bridge too far but surviving again should be top agenda and they will make it.
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LUSAKA DYNAMOS
There is no doubt that the almost loss of Chris Mugalu could have removed a lethal piece of weaponry from the Lusaka Dynamos artillery. The feisty Congolese has been the leading goal scores for Dynamos in the last two seasons and contributed to many more of them. When they watch Clatous Chota Chama , Lusaka Dynamos still regret losing such class and even with replacements, we’ve no replacement for class like that.

There arenew players at Dynamos and they are believed to have added depth but these players remain more potential than proven. Defensive frailties cost Lusaka Dynamos dearly last season—they conceded a whopping 48 goals, only better than three relegated teams—and coach Danny Kabwe will need to tighten up at the back if he’s to bring the title to the club for the first time. But I think that remains more of a dream than reality.
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NAKAMBALA LEOPARDS

Off the field, Nakambala Leopards are regarded as one of the best run clubs in the Super League but on the pitch they bring nothing but anxiety to their following. Hoping the hiring of manager Zeddy Sailet will bring some stability to the Nakambala Leopards dressing room following an indifferent 2018 season that saw them lingering around relegation ambiguity the entire season.

A little more investment in new players will be required if they are to mount any serious challenge in the transitional Super League. Safe to say they won’t be relegated. Zeddy fired from Lumwana Radiants will have to show class or he will get that bad CV of a bad performer, he needs to excel here.
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PRISON LEOPARDS

Prison Leopards will be relegated and its not their fault but the Association who made them believe they were still a division one team only to wake up and be told they are a Super league team.

They are the worst prepared and with meagre resources , I don’t think they are ready to compete at the highest level this time around.
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RED ARROWS
Nkoloma’s doors have little revolved this transfer window, but securing the signature of last season’s saviour , Chisi Mbewe and confirming him as Head Coach will guarantee stability if not success. Bettering last term’s ninth-place finish would be a massive achievement for popular and liked coach Chisi Mbewe, but the failure of getting close to CAF qualification will make this a demanding task. If the now veteran Bruce Musakanya continues to blossom, otherwise he was their best player last season and another descent season would be very good for Chisi. Nothing much is expected , its a matter of fighting relegation and finishing in respectable position.
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ZANACO
Eccentric coach Numba Mumamba had a spring clean around Sunset Stadium already and off-loaded some big names in the process that includes Isaac Chansa, George Chilufya and many more. However, the departures have been countered with big money signings and everyone will be looking at what happens this time around . Numba is walking on thin ice and he should stop being comfortable because Zanaco needs to bounce back from the horrors of 2018.

There is a big signing that shouldn’t be forgotten at Zanaco, unfortunately it is off the pitch.
That is of Marlon Kananda, former Supersport and that even when it is off the pitch , is a good signing, enough to win something but Numba won’t panic as we always know him . The least acceptance ending this time around would be to qualify for CAF cup games . Can he do it?
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ZESCO UNITED

ZESCO United’s business in the transfer market this window has not been about adding depth to a title-winning squad already oozing with-class talent. But George has maintained his team and actually lost on Adam Zikiru who has moved to Forest Rangers .
I don’t think there is competition for places in the team, but it should be noted that the team no longer has the depth that can go throughout the season and win the league with easy. If they win it, it will be down to experience.

A decent run in the Champions League and now Confederation Cup has been all that’s missing from the success of the last few seasons. Could this be the year ZESCO come alive in CAF Confederation? The first stop is in South Africa this weekend , hoping to eliminate Kaizer Chiefs?
They look good to top this group and whether they can go on and defend the league is the debate after the analysis of the other group.

MY TAKE AT THE END OF THIS GROUP

1. ZESCO United
2. ZANACO
3. Green Buffaloes
4. Red Arrows
5. Lusaka Dynamos
6. Kabwe Warriors
7. Kitwe United
8. Nakambala Leopards
9. Circuit City
10. Prison Leopards

Join me later for the analysis of Group Two.