ZESCO UNITED TO AVOID A SHOCK EXIT
It could be one of the biggest shocking result should the islanders knock out Zesco United out of the 2018 CAF Champions League for the year 2018.
The little known JKU are in that dream land after holding the Zambian champions a week ago in Zanzibar and they know exactly what to do to leave Zambia smiling .
A score draw will see JKU advance to the pre-group stage on away goals rule and so Zesco have no choice but to mount an all-out attack to ensure they get a win at home and ensure they are part of the teams that make it to the first round. No any other result is good for them.
Zesco United coach Tenant Chembo says failure is a word not on the clubs’ vocabulary as they prepare for Wednesday’s must-win 2018 CAF Champions League tie against JKU of Zanzibar.
The interim coach will have to ignore the fact that this could be his last game in charge if Zesco United and perform to get the team info for the next stage of this competition. He is upbeat about what is expected and knows exactly what he has to do to see his beloved team make it. He is quoted in some tabloid :
“We all know it is a qualifier and we went away and we drew. So we all know what is at stake.” Said Tenant Chembo.
Maintaining Undefeated stat at Home
Zesco United have never lost continental encounter at home and that will be one thing on TC and the boys as JKU walk on the turf but take note a 0-0 result will not be the final result in this encounter. The teams needa to be separated this afternoon.
TC wouldn’t want to exit as Coach of this club giving the team it’s first loss at home in the African CAF games and hence will go for an outright win.
“We want to maintain that legacy in terms of positive results at home,” Chembo said.
Prize after this Encounter
Winner on Wednesday will face either ASEC Mimosa of Cote d’Ivoire or Buffles du Borgou of Benin in the first round who will be fighting to get into the group stage of the CAF Champions League .
ASEC and Buffles, who meet in Abidjan an hour after the Zesco-JKU game, are tied at 1-1 from the first leg on February 11 in Cotonou.
News and Fans
Off the pitch, there is cold air among Zesco Fans who are up in a Cold War with the Executive committee with revelations that this could be the last game of TC as an interim coach and with word going round that their former Coach George Lwandamina could be in line for the top job.
While the fans support the idea of George coming back to the team most of the views assessed reveal that the timing of this news circulating is at the wrong time.
That is what the team and the technical team will have to ignore and concentrate on the most wanted win on the pitch this afternoon.
Prediction
Am paid go predict games and I will do just that. This is a scare for Zesco and JKU who before these two games had only played once in this competition will have nothing to lose. They won’t defend anything but attack the Zambian champions.Thats both good and bad for Zesco.
Zesco United should by all means not allow JKU score first if they do them they are out as a. not seeing the team score twice after that. I feel they will be strong at home and win easily and qualify to the next round round. But the coach should start Zikiru Adams upfront.
My Prediction: Zesco United 3-1 JKU
