Our writer Bwezani Mbewe takes a look at FAZ Super league week 9 in a detailed preview.Last week he got five predictions right with two correct scores in week 8.

Saturday, 7th May 2016

Lusaka Tigers Vs NAPSA Stars
Independence Stadium
13:00hrs
Live on Supersport
I thought Tigers did perform very well away to Lumwana Radiants in week eight and that points was very valuable but then who can as well forget the first win of the season for NAPSA against the great Kabwe Warriors at Woodlands Stadium the same say?
This is what this game will made up with, NAPSA hoping to stay away from relegation zone and Lusaka Tigers hoping to go on 13 points. It’s that close as any of these teams can pick the points in this encounter. The performance of NAPSA against Kabwe Warriors was what I was expecting before the season kicked off because the team has players and I wonder why they are failing to perform.
But then this is at Independence Stadium where Lusaka Tigers have been very strong so far and only have one loss against Nakambala Leopards, the other loss for Tigers was away at Sunset against ZANACO.
This won’t be an easy game for NAPSA because I just love the support that comes up at Independence stadium and I just hope sanity will be brought back after what we saw against Nkana.

Tigers are only fighting to retain their Super League status come next season and home ground performance will be key but the EXCO and supporters society have to work on the discipline of the fans. We need Independence Stadium for super league games and am sure any more of such FAZ will take a whip.
There won’t be violence this time around am sure as home fans will be celebrating the victory against NAPSA.

Prediction: 1-0 NAPSA
Green Buffaloes Vs Nkana
Independence Stadium
13:00hrs
Live on Supersport
This is the biggest game of the weekend for me and I need to watch it because Green Buffaloes is one team that could actually end the unbeaten run for Nkana. The last time these teams met was during the 2015 season and Green Buffaloes beat Nkana 2-1 in Lusaka and Nkana beat 2-0 in Kitwe.
The head to head form favours Nkana in the last 13 games played. In those matches Nkana have won seven, drawing two and losing four , meaning GBFC have four wins, two draws and 7  loses in the last 13 games.
The two teams straight from some good victories in the last matches, Nkana beat Lusaka Dynamos 3-0 and Green Buffaloes beat another Kitwe side Power Dynamos 2-1.
Nkana would want to win this one to stay clear of Zesco on the top as well as offer serious challenge to the chasing pack. But Green Buffaloes five points from the top two and they will look at this fixture as a must win to get closer to the top too. It’s quite an intense game, GBFC have already lost one game this season (against Nchanga Rangers) while Nkana is still unbeaten.

It is always good to be team that breaks records and that is one thing that GBFC will be looking for. The last time Nkana visited Independence Stadium they dropped their first points of the season drawing with Lusaka Tigers. I feel some more points will be dropped this weekend for Kalampa.

Prediction: Green Buffaloes 2-2 Nkana
Power Dynamos Vs Nkwazi
Arthur Davies.
15:00hrs

It was supposed to be another Ultimatum for Tenant Chilumba, but he wont be able to reach the ultimatum as he has been fired. The aspiration of the team and the executive is to win the title this season which is possible but already looks a big challenge. I don’t know if the firing of TC is a good step in that direction. We are yet to know how the team unveils after this BREAKING NEWS.
They face Nkwazi, who they drew 0-0 in September 2015 but on Nkwazi’s last visit to Kitwe, Power Dynamos won 3-1.
In the last 12 meetings Nkwazi has three wins, three draws and have lost six times. It’s a big task to ask Nkwazi to pick three points in Kitwe. I don’t see it happening but the defence of Power Dynamos is serious suspect sometimes, they have already seven goals and hence the chance of Nkwazi scoring with Chikandiwa and Chikwanda is so high. Nkwazi is risking getting out of the top four should they lose this encounter and the chasing pack win their encounters. Those that can take advantage of the slip up of Nkwazi are Zanaco, Nakambala GBFC and Red Arrows. Power Dynamos even with a win cannot go above Nkwazi. In the last 12 games between these sides, Nkwazi has allowed 21 goals and only scored 9.
Am going for a draw as there is too much pressure on Power Dynamos and players will fight for the team and make a lot of mistakes.

Prediction: Power Dynamos 1-1 Nkwazi

Green Eagles Vs Forest Rangers
Independence, Choma
15:00hrs
Two teams in the relegation zone face each other in this encounter where in the past six encounters the home team in Green Eagles have won three, drawn two and lost one. Forest only have one win against Eagles and that came on 20/06/15 when Forest Rangers beat Green Eagles 2 – 1 in Ndola. But two draws in the past games were recorded in Choma and that will give Forest Rangers some hope.
Rangers is going through some serious technical bench issues and should Green Eagles lose this one Chinama will definitely join the ultimatum language which is becoming common. Green Eagles don’t easily lose at home and they are also not in the tendency of scoring a lot of goals. Eagles are a 1-0 specialist if they win and I just think playing at home against Forest almost with the same form will just get the second win of the season.

Prediction: Green Eagles 1-0 Forest Rangers
Mufulira Blackpool Vs Red Arrows
John Kachofa Stadium
15:00hrs

I tipped Mufulira Blackpool to win against NAPSA on their last home and they led for a very long time only to allow NAPSA to equalise and draw that encounter. It remains the only team without a win this season having lost four games and drawn three. They have one game in hand against Green Buffaloes. That won’t be an easy game.
They face Red Arrows who are just discovering their form after a slow start and the mid-week victory against Nakambala Leopards will be a pushing factor. Red Arrows was one of the best away sides last season but already have lost two at Power Dynamos and Nkwazi.

They wouldn’t want to have a third one so soon but Mufulira Blackpool having lost 5-0 to Zesco would want to redeem themselves with a point.  But they play Red Arrows at the wrong time because Arrows seems to have found their form.

Prediction: Mufulira Blackpool 1-2 Red Arrows*
Kabwe Warriors Vs ZESCO United
Godfrey Chitalu Stadium
15:00hrs

Kabwe Warriors beat Zesco 1-0 in 2014 and Zesco ended up champions that year. And Zesco the same year beat Kabwe Warriors in Ndola 3-1 urging closer to winning the title. But this is too early for title deciders but whichever way you look at it this is a key game for both sides.

For Zesco they beat Kabwe Warriors and they would end the weekend on number one should Nkana lose to GBFC. That’s the only result that could make ZESCO end week nine on first position.
If Zesco beats Kabwe Warriors away, it will not be the first time they achieve that mileage, the last time ZESCO United beat Warriors at home was Saturday 16th March 2013, and further down in 2010 September, Zesco did manage to beat Kabwe Warriors again in Kabwe. The games between these sides have been very close and the average is always 1-0 score line for either but Zesco has been very good when they are hosting beating Kabwe Warriors recently 3-1 in 2014 and another 3-1 in 2013.
/*The last 16 games between these two sides puts ZESCO a favourite to win this encounter, they have won 10 drawn two and only lost two in 2014 and 2011. Kabwe Warriors has not impressed so far this season and fans are becoming unsupportive of Fatty and should they lose this one, am afraid that fatty will get into the language of Ultimatums. It’s a pity they are playing ZESCO after losing to NAPSA.

It’s a big call. I feel Jesse Were will be a danger but the interesting bit will be Iddriss Mbombo going back to Kabwe Warriors though indication already show that he can’t play against his parent club because of his loan deal. Zesco will be under pressure to perfom after the mid week drop of two points and that will be advantage Kabwe Warriors who I think will get a draw because Zesco rarely loses on the road.

Prediction: Kabwe Warriors 1-1 Zesco United
Nchanga Rangers Vs Lumwana, Radiants,
Nchanga stadium
15:00hrs
Nchanga Rangers is one of the very inconsistent teams this year already and you can understand their situation but on the rate of 10 you can rate them at 5. They have failed to build on the win against Power Dynamos at home, they have another home game after a 1-1 draw against Mufulira

Wanderers in week seven. They welcome Lumwana Radiants who have won two and drawn three with three other loses counting to a total of 8 games.
Lumwana are the first team to stop defending champions from getting three points in the mid-week after the draw against Zesco United and that is confidence enough to hope for the best in Chingola but that will be a different game and I think Nchanga Rangers will win this one.

Prediction: Nchanga Rangers 2-0 Lumwana Radiants
Sunday 8th May, 2016

Lusaka Dynamos Vs Mufulira Wanderers
Sunset Stadium
13:00hrs
Live on Supersport

Mufulira Wanderers beat Lusaka Dynamos home and away last season with a goal aggregate of 5-1. 3-1 in Lusaka and 2-0 in Mufulira and I think for me that was one of the best game that I saw Jacob Ngulube play at Sunset Stadium. I watched this game with Ba Chola a good friend of mine who we all saw how good Lusaka Dynamos was playing but Mufulira Wanderers was well prepared for that encounter.
The two teams are in similar situations coming to this game with different perspectives, Mufulira Wanderers are yet to put pen to paper the contract of the Ahmed Suliman with issues to do with not having the license. Lusaka Dynamos on the other hand are having serious challenges on the field of player and have only won one game in eight games. They have lost five the highest in the league the other team to have lost that number of games is Green Eagles.
This is a must win for both teams and games with such intensity become a bit borrowing especially if there won’t be an early goal.

I think it will be a draw because unless Joseph Kasongo is to be spectacular but the second half signs at Shinde against ZANACO will be the pushing factor for the Mufulira outfit. By the way Mufulira Wanderers has the highest number if draws so far this season and they will go to six after this game

President: Lusaka Dynamos 1-1 Mufulira Wanderers
ZANACO Vs Nakambala Leopards
Sunset Stadium
15:00hrs
Live on Supersport
Nakambala just lost their first game to Red Arrows on Wednesday at Nkoloma Stadium in a week one rescheduled game and playing ZANACO after that encounter is not an easy task.
Nakambala picked a point last season at Sunset stadium when they played to a 0-0 score line and that was the first point at Sunset in 14 games.

The rest have been losses. Actually Nakambala has only beaten ZANCO once and I don’t think it’s time for the second ZANACO is receive a second loss at the hands of Nakambala. ZANACO looks a real deal and these are the two teams very good at defence this season. Zanaco have only conceded one goal, which is the best in the league while Nakambala have let in three of course with Zesco second on two.
As said earlier Zanaco comes to this fixture with eight wins five draws and one loss to Nakambala and what we saw in the first held against Mufulira Wanderers last week gives an indication that Nakambala will have a busy afternoon.
But Zanaco still has to improve with the way they organise themselves when under pressure, they looked out of thought in Mufulira in the last 15 minutes and that is what Nakambala will work on to improve and perhaps get something off the Bankers.
I have a strong feeling Zanaco is one of the teams that will be fighting for the league this season and if that is to be reality these are games that they have to take advantage of and win.

Predictions : ZANACO 2-1 Nakambala Leopards
Lets see what happens after the games

Bwezani Mbewe

Follower of the Zambian game!!!!!