MY VIEW IN THE FAZ MTN SUPER LEAGUE IN WEEK
Friday 27th May, 2016
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Power Dynamos vs Mufulira Blackpool
Arthur Davis Stadium
15:00hrs
With a trip to Mazabuka next, a home game against Kabwe Warriors, Power Dynamos cannot afford to slip up against a Mufulira Blackpool team seemingly destined for relegation. They dropped points at Shinde against Mufulira Wanderers last week and they will be hoping to get back to winning ways in this encounter and if there is a game they need to register a win at home, this would surely be it.
Mufulira Blackpool can expect to be rolled over at Athur Davies Stadium. Blackpool have only kept a clean sheet in two games this season, an away game against Mufulira Wanderers and a home game against Nakambala Leopards in the last 12 games played so far and I don’t fancy them to come out clean in this encounter.
Blackpool hold the record of the poorest defence in the league so far having allowed 17 goals and they have scored the fewest goals (5) the other team with that same number of goals is Lusaka Tigers. Am going for a home win
MY VERDICT: Power Dynamos 2-0 Mufulira Blackpool
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Saturday 28th May, 2016
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Lusaka Dynamos vs Zesco United
Sunset Stadium
13:00hrs
A victory for Lusaka Dynamos at Sunset would represent a historical moment, for they have never beaten ZESCO in the Super League.
While there is much riding here for the visitors, who drew at home to ZANACO last weekend that was their fourth of the season… Zesco United need three points to stay in touch with ZANACO and Nkana at the top with expected wins for Nkana and ZANACO in the other games.
Zesco’s Jesse Were is still the leading goal scorer with 10 goals coming into week 13 and he will be favourite to add another goal in this fixture.
But Lusaka Dynamos has come out good recently getting off the relegation zone and another draw in this encounter would not be enough to guarantee stay outside the relegation zone should other results go against them.
In the last 12 games in the Super league between these sides, Zesco has won 6, there has been 6 draws and Lusaka Dynamos are yet to pick three points.
Kennedy Musonda is proving a good striker for Lusaka Dynamos and I just have that feeling that he will score again but it won’t be enough for a win.
My Verdict: Lusaka Dynamos 1-2 Zesco
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Zanaco Vs Red Arrows
Sunset Stadium
15:00hrs
ZANACO are running out of games in hand when we all thought after they play their games in hand they would be able to leapfrog Nkana.
That won’t happen as they fall four points behind Nkana having played a game less. They drew their fourth of the season on Wednesday against Kabwe Warriors but still maintain their unbeaten run.
Zanaco is the only team with that record so far after week 12. The Bankers have an opportunity to get back to winning ways when Red Arrows visit Sunset Stadium.
This is always an interesting fixture and ZANACO won 2-0 in this stadium last season but drew at Nkoloma. In recent times I enjoyed watching the last game of the 2014 season at Nkoloma were ZANACO were denied the title by Red Arrows with a 4-0 beating.
There is no friendship between these Lusaka based sides. I think ZANACO will need to be at their best to keep Red Arrows at bay because no matter the poor form Red Arrows is having they don’t like losing to ZANACO.
But then Numba Mumamba has seen his side perform well at home so far this Season and I am backing them to pick up a win here. In the last 20 meetings, everything is equal, played 20, both have 8 wins, draws 4 and losses 8. I just think ZANACO is better prepared for a win in this encounter than Red Arrows .
MY VERDICT: ZANACO 2-0 Red Arrows
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Lusaka Tigers vs Nkwazi
Independence Stadium
13:00hrs
The lunch time game at Independence Stadium is one interesting one. It could actually be one of the pick of the weekend fixtures.
Free scoring Nkwazi face resilient Lusaka Tigers in an early battle at the old independence stadium. Nkwazi had started slowly this Season and currently sit fourth after a very good run of results two points behind the defending champions and six points above the host in this tie.
Chanda’s side slipped up against Forest Rangers last weekend in Ndola.
Nkwazi have looked very dangerous going forward scoring 20 goals in 12 games, two behind Nkana who lead the pack and they have won five, drawing three and losing four.
Justin Shonga and Steward Chikandiwa have been instant hits scoring 12 between them but in this fixture Steward will be missing.
Lusaka Tigers have been very good at the back too, only allowing 8 but their biggest challenge is the lack of goals in their team.
They have only scored five goals and for a team with an objective of staying in the league that is not too motivating.
They are among the lowest scorers alongside Mufulira Blackpool and Nchanga Rangers who have also scored five goals only.
They need to start winning their home games but I think the momentum is with the visitors in this encounter.
MY VERDICT: Lusaka Tigers 1-2 Nkwazi
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Green Buffalos vs Napsa Stars
Independence Stadium
15:00hrs
Green Buffaloes picked up three points with a 1-0 win at Shinde Stadium against Mufulira Wanderers in their last game in week 10 and that looks some time back. Jack Chirwa was on target
. Bilton Musonda must have been delighted with the Soldiers in that game that was not going to be an easy fixture. NAPSA are the next side to face GBFC and away trips are rarely tougher than visits to Independence Stadium.
The Pensionaries will need to be at their very best if they are to leave Independence Stadium with anything.
GBFC have yet to lose at Independence Stadium this season which could give NAPSA some serious work to do but I fully expect a home win to get GBFC’s season kick started in pursuit for the title hunt.
Don’t rule them out, they win their games in hand and they pressure NKANA on top, they are currently two points behind ZESCO and ZANACO and that is belief enough.
They play NAPSA who they beat last season home and away and in the last 8 encounters with NAPSA GBFC has only lost twice, winning four and drawing two. A busy day for NAPSA
MY VERDICT: GBFC 3-0 NAPSA
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Kabwe Warriors vs Green Eagles
Godfrey Ucar Chitalu Stadium
15:00hrs
Green Eagles bounced back from their defeat against Power Dynamos with an impressive 1-0 victory at home last weekend but the people that watched that game don’t understand why Green Eagles is a one goal score team.
Reports say they could have won that game with more than one goal.
Kabwe Warriors have an opportunity to impress their home fans when Green Eagles visits Godfrey Ucar Chitalu.
Green Eagles have only picked 12 points from 12 games, winning three, drawing three and losing six. Green Eagles a team known for a very good defence and difficult to beat is proving something else this season and they have already allowed 11 goals in their six loses.
They visit Kabwe Warriors straight from their 1-1 draw with ZANACO on Wednesday and will look at this fixture as an opportunity to get three points that could bring some confidence with the Kabwe team.
I don’t think Muhamad Fatty is appreciated at Kabwe Warriors and the more wins he grabs the better for him and the confidence of his players. They have six games to their name with Green Eagles winning four, drawing zero and losing two.
Green Eagles has won on this stadium before beating Kabwe 3-0 in 2014 so that could give them some hope but I just feel there is more seriousness with Kabwe Warriors than Green Eagles.
My Verdict: Kabwe Warriors 2-0 Green Eagles
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Mufulira Wanderers Vs Nakambala
Shinde Stadium
15:00hrs
Live on Supersport
Saying every game is a cup final at this stage of the season is such a cliché, but for Mufulira Wanderers fans who are waiting to watch this game, it does summon such thoughts as they can no longer afford to watch their team lose. They know how division one football is and they wouldn’t want to go back there. .
They have fond recollections of the journey to the Super League after 1996. Thanks to Manfred Chabinga they are here today and they would need to maintain the Super league status.
Nakambala could not have picked this fixture after a home draw with Nchanga Rangers in the mid-week with which to plot a route back to winning ways.
I think they have been disturbed a bit by the exit of Patrick Phiri but they are still a good team. They will need that defence to be as inspired as ever at Shinde Stadium.
Mufulira Wanderers need a win to avoid another spot in the relegation zone should the other teams below them on goal difference win. It’s that close at the bottom of the table.
They played some good football against Power Dynamos at home and I just think they have the momentum coming into this game. But they tend to underrate teams of Nakambala nature when home.
They did that last season and dropped two points and they as well dropped two points in Mazabuka. This one will be tight but they win.
MY VERDICT: Mufulira Wanderers 1-0 Nakambala Leopards
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Nchanga Rangers vs Forest Rangers
Nchanga Stadium
15:00hrs
Nchanga Rangers have had a free flow and now are ninth. They were 10th in week eleven, ninth in week ten, seventh in week nine, tenth in week nine, sixth in week seven, fourth in week six.
That’s the positioning of Nchanga Rangers in the past weeks and that draw in Mazabuka helped them to get back to the ninth position.
They need a win to make sure they end the weekend in their birthright numbers of between 6th and twelfth.
They host Forest Rangers who in the last 14 games have won nine, drawn three and lost two. They drew against Forest Rangers in Ndola and beat the Ndola based side in Chingola 2-0.
Forest are playing good football all of a sudden and it won’t be an easy game for Nchanga Rangers but I think home ground confidence will strive
MY VERDICT: Nchanga Rangers 1-0 Forest Rangers
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Sunday 29th May, 2016
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Nkana fc vs Lumwana Radiants
Nkana Stadium
15:00hrs
The break for Lumwana should have allowed them to get over the euphoria of losing to Lusaka Dynamos as well as get over the sacking of Allan Kamwanga in this past week, although in the meantime their concentration would still be to get off the relegation zone this fixture comes too early for the North Western representatives.
Nkana who are top of the league and feeling so comfortable and won their last encounter in a difficult place in Mazabuka and impressed so far this season will again be favourite for the maximum points at home.
On paper, it is games like this Nkana needs to win if they are going to have any serious advantage against the chasing pack and this will be an intriguing battle for Lumwana desperately for points.
Lumwana are dangerous opponents as they are very good at defending on a good day. Nkana have only lost once this season and everything seems to go their way so far and it will again be some more three points for the 2013 league champions without a doubt.
MY VERDICT: Nkana 3-0 Lumwana Radiants
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ENJOY THE GAMES
BOLA IBABA
