Zanaco are third as they go five out of five
When these games start coming we know the league is now shaping up as big boys meet and the log standing is defined. Games in hand and reducing and possible positions made known.
Week Nine was something that everyone would be looking forward to especially with Zesco and Nkana playing on the same day away from home. Here is a summary
WINNERS
Green Buffaloes,Green Eagles,Power Dynamos and Nchanga
A total number of five teams benefited the three points in week Nine gaining momentum with no team winning on the road
GREEN BUFFALOES
A good second in a role at Independence Stadium and this was a big prize for GBFC. The context was done by the close of first half as GBFC led by 3-0. Nkana was in sevens and GBFC actually would have added some more goals in that encounter. Christopher Munthali scoring the fourth own goal of the season while Diamond and Christopher Katongo making sure GBFC would leave Independence Stadium with all joys.
Silavwe the GBFC goal keeper gave the goal to Nkana which looked like a relief but that was all nothing good come from Nkana on a very packed Saturday at Independence Stadium. The decision to allow the fifth own goal of the season will be debated throughout the week and the only thing that will help is that it was not a decisive goal Nkana would lose and GBFC celebrate another win from the Kitwe Giants. GBFC moves from sixth to fourth.
GREEN EAGLES
With so much pressure on Eagles at home who started the game in the relegation zone against Forest Rangers as well in the same zone. A lot was expected from the home side but reports from Choma suggest it was another close game and Eagles are lucky they managed to get those three points off NAPSA. For now who cares, Green Eagles are off the relegation zone with a win, thanks to Spence Sautu for the goal and that means Eagles with some relief are out of the bottom four.
POWER DYNAMOS
The era without Tenant Chilumba had started and Nkwazi were the visitors. Power Executive, fans and players had no choice but to get three points. It paid Benson Sakala getting the only goal of the game to bring relief to the people of Ndeke Township in Kitwe and start hoping it’s the start of good things to come. But wait a minute, it’s the Kitwe derby in waiting in week 10.
NCHANGA RANGERS
One of the big jumps of the week belonged to Nchanga Rangers who were 10th before kickoff to end at sixth position on the log after the games. The visitor was Lumwana Radiants buoyed with the point at ZESCO in the mid-week.
But Nchanga not an easy side at home would not accept another drop of points and just scored through Bwalya Kasonde who has now scored two goals since the start of the season. It will be a valued win as they plan for an away trip to inform NAPSA who are proving strong all of the sudden.
ZANACO
At home to Nakambala were expected to go on with the winning streak and that win means they go fifteen points from fifteen points and remains the only team with the 100 % record with a couple of games at hand. Fashion Sakala and Roderick Kabwe with the goals means, Zanaco has scored 12 goals and only allowed one+.
DRAWS
Four draws recorded and interestingly in involved the defending Champions
Kabwe Warriors 1-1 Zesco United
Zesco straight from dropping points at home to Lumwana Radiants were on the short trip to Kabwe to take on Kabwe Warriors who were also not having the best of form. As usual according to reports coming from Godfrey Ucar Chitalu Stadium, it was a highly contested game and Josephat Kasusu scoring his second of the season through spot kick while Jesse Were who is proving a serious thorn to defenders netting his ninth of the season. A draw possibly a fare result.
Mufulira Blackpool 1-1 Red Arrows
Mufulira Blackpool remain the only team without a win this season after being promoted into the super league and they had a chance of winning this one after Charles Chomba scored from a spot kick early in the first half but allowed Red Arrows to come back in the Second half and equalize late on through Joseph Phiri. Not too good for Blackpool as it looks very difficult from leaving that relegation zone.
Lusaka Tigers 0-0 NAPSA
Lusaka Tigers last won a league match in week three against Lusaka Dynamos (1-0) after that they have lost once and drew the rest. They have drawn a total of 5 games which is the highest in the league and this was another draw and according to one of the biggest fans he says it’s now frustrating. They keep on going down the log. They are now 10th. It will be a welcome draw for NAPSA who have struggled early in the season and drawing will feel like a win.
Lusaka Dynamos 1-1 Mufulira Wanderers
This was going to be a key game for both and at the end of the game the fair result for the two teams who are trying to get back to their form and start getting off the relegation zone. Mighty Mufulira Wanderers were again a different team from what we saw against ZANACO and this will be expected as they move from the Chabinga era. For now it will be a welcome point.
LOSSES
Forest Rangers,Nkana,Nkwazi,Lumwana Radiants and Power Dynamos
Very bad week nine for the five teams.
FOREST RANGERS
Another loss the fifth in the season and losing to remain rooted in the Relegation zone will hurt, they have a new Coach now who will be preparing to face the defending champions in the mid-week. Forest Rangers have only scored two goals in seven games and they need to work on this challenge.
NKANA
I don’t know what became of Nkana defense or should I say they found a very good team and that was the first real test according to most of the pundits. It is a serious check as most of the players looked ordinary. It was the first loss of the season and they will need to correct the situation soonest of they are to push the title. They meet Power Dynamos next in Wusakile.
NKWAZI
Nkwazi Coach Elijah Chikwanda didn’t look that disturbed after the game (1-0) and I think it’s because his team competed so well but it’s a drop of three points and they get out of the top three. Power Dynamos is a big team and Nkwazi will surely have to take the positives as they move on to play Green Eagles at home.
LUMWANA RADIANTS
Lumwana Radiants lose their fourth game of the season and all the four are away games to Nkwazi, Green Eagles, and now Nchanga Rangers and will feel a serious loss of points but will be encourages that most of the games they are losing are not with big margins apart from the 4-0 drubbing by Nkwazi
NAKAMBALA
The second loss of the season for Nakambala Leopards and all coming in a space of five days and they now concede five goals. They will have to get back to the drawing board and getting back to winning ways. Patrick Phiri is gone and we will have to see what the team will come up with. Zanaco was a better team and Nakambala will have to learn from that loss.
Bwezani Mbewe stastistics for week nine
Number of Goals scored: 14
Best team of the week for Bwezani:
GREEN BUFFALOES
Without a doubt GBFC wins the best team of week nine for me beating Nkana 3-1 at Independence Stadium just throws them into contention for the title in a season that seriously looks like it will be unpredictable. Well played GBFC and you should have had a clean sheet because that goal was not supposed to have been allowed.
Most improved team:
Lusaka Dynamos will get a nod of the most improved team for me in week nine, drawing the game with 10 men in most of the second half against Mufulira Wanderers will be very good for the team.
Most disappointing team:
Nkana for me is the most disappointing in week nine as they allowed three goals in the first lose. What a way of losing your undefeated streak.
Relegation candidates:
Mufulira Blackpool will end the week on the bottom and failing to keep the lead will mean they are the early candidates of fighting relegation.
MTN FAZ Super league week eight results Saturday, May, 7th
Lusaka Tigers 0-0 Napsa Stars
Green Buffaloes 3-1 Nkana
Power Dynamos 1-0 Nkwazi
Green Eagles 1-0 Forest Rangers
Mufulira Blackpool 1-1 Red Arrows
Kabwe Warriors 1-1 ZESCO United
Nchanga Rangers 1-0 Lumwana Radiants
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Sunday May, 8th
Lusaka Dynamos 1-1 Mufulira Wanderers
Zanaco 2-0 Nakambala
Midweek matches:
Green Buffaloes Vs Mufulira Blackpool
Zesco Vs Forest Rangers
Zanaco Vs Power Dynamos
Week 9 fixtures
Nkana Vs Power Dynamos
Nkwazi Vs Green Eagles
Mufulira Wanderers Vs Green Buffaloes
Forest Rangers Vs Mufulira Blackpool
Nakambala Leopards Vs Lusaka Dynamos
Red Arrows Vs Kabwe Warriors
Lumwana Radiants Vs Zanaco
Zesco United Vs Lusaka Tigers
NAPSA Stars Vs Nchanga Rangers
BOLA
