Zesco United have established themselves as one of the best Clubs in Africa at the moment. The MTN/FAZ Super League defending Champions reached the semi finals of the CAF Champions league where they lost to eventual Champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the process becoming the first Club from Zambia to do so in it’s current Format.
The Club has had a great year continental wise ,since it seems they can’t reclaim their local crown as Sensational Zanaco seems to be running away with it. They still have a chance to win the league but it will need a miracle for that to be reality . The Barclays Cup will offer some consolation should they fail to defend the league and manage to overcome Zanaco on the 26th of November.
DERPATURES
Coach George Lwandamina resigned as Zesco United head Coach on the 7th of November just hours after his team’s 3-2 loss to Nkana. Although contradicting reports have been coming out of Tanzania it seems like YANGA will do everything possible to sign the former Chipolopolo trainer. Lwandamina is believed to have been offered a K180 000 monthly salary which is about 4 times his Zesco United salary. Whether the resignation was due to the offer or something else its not clear.
Lwandamina’s resignation came barely six days after Zesco’s “Best” player Cletus Chota “Triple C” Chama signed a three and half year deal with Egyptian club Ittihad Alexandria. Triple C has been an important part of the Zesco United set up and they will surely miss his brilliance. The saddest part of this story is that he will join the Egyptian Club as a free transfer as his contract would have expired by then [January]. One wonders how a club like Zesco United let things reach this far but maybe just maybe he become too expensive for the club as he is currently rated among the best players playing their trade on the continent.
Idris Ilunga Mbombo has been called back by his club Kabwe Warriors hence he will be returning home by the end of this month, Unless Zesco United manage to strike a new deal for the prolific attacker. Mbombo is a goal scoring machine and Zesco United still need his services and should do everything possible to keep him.
RUMOURED DERPARTURES
Midfield maestro Misheck Chaila who played for Chipolopolo over the weekend in the 1-1 all draw against Cameroon as been linked with a move to YANGA in Tanzania to join fellow country man Obby Chirwa. Another Yanga target is talisman Jesse Jackson Were who also has interest from other African Top Clubs like TP Mazembe but Yanga will have an Upper hand should Lwandamina sign.
The Club has also seen its form drop and prior to their 3-1 win over Nchanga Rangers they went 4 games without a win. These derpartures and rumours plus other factors like fatigue have surely affected the club negatively.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MONEY
They are $700,000 richer and this means that they can splash on players to replace those leaving. Their is a lot of talk about maybe Walter Bwalya making a switch from Kitwe to Ndola but Walter has too many suitors and Zesco might not be is destination after his recent endeavors with Nkana Scoring 22 goals.
THE COACHING JOB
With Lwandamina gone rumors have started making rounds on a possible local replacement. Former Kabwe Warriors Coach Muhammad Fathi and Current Power Dynamos Coach Danny Kabwe are the names making rounds though nothing has been made official and these remain mare speculations. His assistant Tenant Chembo is also another great option to replace Lwandamina. Chembo has been at Zesco United and knows the Club,its system and the Players hence it os easy for him to succeed.
POSSIBLE SIGNINGS
Ghanian Premier League Golden Boot winner Latif Blessing is also a one for the taking. The new kid on the Block in Ghanian Football has great eye for Goal. Zesco can try negotiate his ridiculous price tag of $200 000 to something reasonable.
Eric “Marcelo” Ouma of Gor Mahia is the new Wonder Kid of Kenyan Football. Originally a left back but due to his attacking sense he plays as a winger [similar to the bale story]. The 20 year old can help Zesco in trying to Build a long term Cletus Chota Chama replacement.
With Idris Mbombo heading back home , Jesse Were being linked with a move away and Walter Bwalya not likely to join Zesco United alternatives can Found. Jacques Tuyisenge is a great Striker that can fit the big shoes at Zesco. Another Alternative would be to lure felix Nyaende to the Club . The Forest Rangers Striker has surely found his form scoring almost half of Forest Rangers Goals and Making sure they stay well away from the drop.
Is this the end of Zesco United’s dominance in Zambia Football ?, well far from it. The Ndola giants have been in such a situation before though it was just with one player who was their best at the moment [ Winston Kalengo] and they managed to cope well without any problems. They will likely sort out these issues and challenge for the league next season.
The one thing though that the club needs to address is the issue of Contracts. They can’t afford to lose players like Triple C on free transfers. These are players that can earn the club a lot of revenue.
