FAZ MTN SUPER LEAGUE WEEK 30 PREVIEW- OPINION

MY VIEW IN THE FAZ SUPERLEAGUE WEEK 30 GAMES IN THE MID WEEK

Wednesday 12th October,2016

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Forest Rangers vs Nchanga Rangers

(Mwanawasa Stadium)

13:00hrs

Nchanga Rangers are in serious danger and this is now a must win game for the Chingola elite side and another loss in this encounter will prove so costly for Nchanga and they may get into the weekend in relegation zone. Nchanga Rangers is in this situation for having lost form and in the process allowing the teams that were behind them to leapfrog and putting them in this situation at a very crucial period of the season. Seriously the technical bench has not helped the situation so much and players who were supposed to push the team forward have not been so consistent and that in the process has resulted in Nchanga losing 12 games, drawing 7 and only winning 8.

For Forest Rangers, its actually a different story even when they have not been consistent they have not disappointed in games they were expected to pick points and Felix Nyaenda has been handy to make sure that the team is safe from relegation. Forest Rangers even when we say it’s not yet done, its most likely that Forest Rangers will survive. I think 40 points should be the safe zone this season. In this encounter I think Forest will again pick maximum points in this one.

MY VERDICT: Forest Rangers 2-1 Nchanga Rangers

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Zesco United vs Lusaka Dynamos (Mwanawasa stadium)

15:00hrs

ZESCO United are out of the CAF Champions League and we expect the team to have a serious schedule in managing the games in hand in the Super League. But before the games in hand they have to negotiate the week 30 games and the visitor is Lusaka Dynamos who are in relegation zone.

Lusaka Dynamos picked a very win away to Nakambala Leopards past weekend and that just one win is something that they will have going to levy hoping for fortunes to go their way. Only a win can guarantee that Lusaka Dynamos is out of the relegation. Any other result is not good for the team.

I don’t think ZESCO United will let this one pass from their sight especially knowing that their chase now is also in pursuit of playing in the champions league and the only possibility is that they have to defend the league. Should they become second they will miss out in the 2017 Champions League.

Zesco United will win this one and some pressure will be on Chikwanda who is generally settling with the boys very well.

MY VERDICT: ZESCO United 3-1 Lusaka Dynamos

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Red Arrows vs Zanaco

(Nkoloma Stadium)

15:00hrs

This is one of the interesting fixture I enjoy watching and a game that brings a lot of excitement among fans. ZANANCO has been excellent this season and they have seriously grinded results on the road and one wouldn’t be wrong to pit them for a win against Red Arrows in this encounter but Red Arrows has as well been very good at the back and their biggest challenge is to score goals.

Look at the difference. ZANANCO has scored 57 goals this season compared to the 20 of Red Arrows and that is enough to tell how the game on Wednesday would actually go. If we expect goals they may come from ZANACO but I don’t think we shall have a cricket score line but I strongly think ZANANCO will get the three points. Nkoloma is the place where ZANACO lost the league to ZESCO on the last day of 2014 season and that will always be in their mind but I think they make amends and get three points at Nkoloma. Zanaco though haven’t beaten Arrows at Nkoloma Stadium since 2012 and this match will be a test against The AIRMEN who have the second strongest defence at home in the league having only conceded 4 goals in 13 home matches this season.

MY VERDICT: Red Arrows 0-1 ZANANCO

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Napsa Stars Vs Green Buffaloes

(Sunset stadium)

15:00hrs

NAPSA will be fighting for a win that will easy theory relegation battle as they are only on 32 points just three points better than the team Lusaka Dynamos in the relegation. A loss and a win for Lusaka Dynamos then NAPSA would just survive on goal difference. Green Eagles are not an easy side too but then Green Buffaloes is one team you don’t know how they approach games and on a bad day they would easily lose to NAPSA.

NAPSA has been very good this second round of the games and Green Buffaloes won’t find it easy at Sunset. With the two teams facing each other I think they will cancel themselves and share the points as Tenant Chilumba has brought belief in the NAPSA team.

MY VERDICT: NAPSA 1-1 Green Buffaloes

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Nkwazi vs Lusaka Tigers

(Imboela stadium)

15:00hrs

Lusaka Tigers is 7 points behind Mufulira Wanderers and even with a win they will remain in the second last position. Lusaka Tigers will be getting back to division one and their role now is to make sure they don’t make easy for other teams. Nkwazi still need a couple of wins to be sure of Super League status in 2017. Playing at Edwin Imboela I think they will grab the three points. Lusaka Tigers have tried but the going has gone tough and no one will be surprised that they have failed to maintain super league status. They will lose again in this encounter.

MY VERDICT: Nkwazi 2-0 Lusaka Tigers

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Lumwana Radiants vs Nkana

(Lumwana Grounds)

15:00hrs

This is a big one for both teams. Nkana would want maintain the top two position while Lumwana Radiants are in a hurry to move out of the relegation zone. The game played at Nkana this season, Lumwana frustrated Nkana with a draw and they would think they can do this again and possibly get three points off the Wusakile outfit. Nkana should now as well look at their shoulders as ZESCO starts their catch up and they wouldn’t want any drop of points.

IN my interview with Walter Bwalya is it interesting to note that the striker still has hope of Nkana grabbing the title and if that dream is to be realised, these are the games Nkana has to win. But this is Lumwana and I think the only team that convincingly beat Lumwana at Lumwana is ZANACO and that gives them hope that they can actually beat Nkana.

It’s not easy to win at Lumwana and I think Nkana will experience this but then Nkana has seriously picked crucial points at difficult venues already this season. One example is that of 1-0 victory at Nakambala Stadium but I think this one will be a draw.

MY VERDICT: Lumwana Radiants 1-1 Nkana

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Green Eagles vs Kabwe Warriors

(Independence Ground)

15:00hrs

Kabwe Warriors in its current form cannot beat Green Eagles in Choma, I don’t know what has happened to Kabwe Warriors all of a sudden and the suspension of Fathy is something that I don’t understand at this stage of the season when some fans have been talking about at the start of the season. Does it mean finally the EXCO has finally agreed with what some fans have been talking about Fathy and his approach on games.

It’s that suspension that will as well make Kabwe Warriors donate some points to Green Eagles who have confidence in them after getting another crucial win against Power Dynamos over the past weekend.

Kabwe Warriors on 36 points are not yet safe from relegation but that will take a serious chase from the teams below them hence I think Kabwe will survive relegation but Green Eagles need the three points to be sure of playing in the super league with games running out at home. This will be an opportunity. If Mufulira Wanderers is to get relegated am seeing a number of Mighty players joining Chabinga and hence he will fight to stay up for his players at Mighty should they go down and am sure he will get a win in this encounter.

Nakambala Leopards vs Mufulira Wanderers

(Nakambala Stadium)

15:00hrs

Both of these teams are not safe with relegation but Mufulira Wanderers are in a more serious situation and another drop of points in this encounter is disastrous for Mighty Mufulira Wanderers. This is a cup final of the team because if Mufulira Wanderers is to lose this encounter then there will be serious relegation fears and they may panic in them remain games. They need to pick something from Mazabuka if we are to see the Green and White in the super league next season.

I like the confidence that is showing in the Mufulira Wanderers team after they drew with Nkana at home and if that confidence is to be used positively, then Nakambala Leopards have a busy day on a very hot Wednesday in Mazabuka.

But Nakambala knows what is at stake. A loss in this encounter and teams below them win, it will be disaster. I don’t think this game will be an interesting bout because the two teams will be very cautious and hence they will share the points.

MY VERDDICT: Nakambala Leopards 0-0 Mufulira Wanderers

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Mufulira Blackpool vs Power Dynamos

(Kachofa Stadium)

15:00hrs

Power Dynamos welcome back Dan Kabwe back on the touch line and Power Dynamos always have belief if their man is back. He doesn’t play though but looks like the confidence he gives to the players really work for the team.

Take note that Mufulira Wanderers are officially relegated from the Super League as their maximum will only be 29 points should they win all their six games remaining and that is what Lusaka Dynamos have who are in the red zone.

Power Dynamos won’t have it easy though in Mufulira and even when Blackpool is going down they will be a tough team to beat in the remaining six games. Power Dynamos will win but this will be a slender victory

MYVERDICT: Mufulira Blackpool 0-1 Power Dynamos

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Let’s see what happens after the games