FAZ MTN Super League enters week 14 with a bumper weekend full of football action expected across the country as teams battle to end the half season on a high.
Saturday 4th June 2016
Nakambala Leopards Vs Power Dynamos
Nakambala Stadium
15:00hrs
Nakambala are going through a rough patch after the departure of Patrick Phiri and if this continues this week then Nakambala may end the weekend in the relegation zone should other results go against them.
A team known to be very good in defending stretching from last season have now allowed 10 goals in 13 games which is not like Nakambala.
The visitors are Power Dynamos straight from a 4-0 demolition of Mufulira Blackpool. Surely the confidence is with the Kitwe based team.
Power Dynamos has only won twice in Mazabuka last year 1-0 and in 2009 3-1. On total there have been 14 games in the super league between these two sides.
Power Dynamos winning nine and Nakambala winning two. Three were draws. This will be one of the big games and I don’t expect a cricket score line but I think Nakambala will pick a point.
Predictions: Nakambala Leopards 1-1 Power Dynamos
Mufulira Blackpool Vs Kabwe Warriors
John Kachofa Stadium
15:00hrs
Mufulira Blackpool under a new coach will feel like it’s a start of the new season and the former Indeni Coach has had a busy week with the team pushing them for their first win of the season against Kabwe Warriors.
Kabwe Warriors are yet to win a game away this season and will see this as an opportunity but then Mufulira Blackpool has something to prove in this encounter too. No matter the result, even with a win still keeps the Mufulira outfit at the bottom of the table.
It would be good to see the team and fans celebrate their first win ay John Kachofa but this fixture has come too early for the Mufulira outfit.
But they will be okay. I have a feeling this may actually be Kabwe Warriors first win away. They played very well away to Red Arrows and deserved three points and I think they will just have something more than Mufulira Blackpool.
Prediction: Mufulira Blackpool 0-1 Kabwe Warriors
Lumwana Radiants Vs Mufulira Wanderers Saturday
Lumwana
15:00hrs
There is some confidence in the Mufulira Wanderers team after the back to back wins against Power Dynamos and Nakambala that saw the team move from relegation to 8th position just behind Kabwe Warriors with two points.
I listened to Fumbani Muwowo after the game against Nakambala and he gave no chance to Lumwana after winning the man of the match.
That’s the team they face in Lumwana this Saturday team seriously rocked in the relegation zone and they will be looking for some points to get off that zone.
It’s not in their hands though, Lumwana Radiants can only get off the relegation zone if they beat Mufulira Wanderers and NAPSA and Green Eagles lose their games.
Anything less than that is not enough. But then this game is in Lumwana and they just lost their second defeat at home to ZANACO for a very long time.
Mufulira Blackpool was the only team that beat Lumwana at home last year. This won’t be an easy game for Mighty and I just think even without a full time coach Lumwana swill compete and am tipping them for a win.
Predictions: Lumwana Radiants 1-0 Mufulira Wanderers.
Red Arrows Vs Lusaka Dynamos
Nkoloma Stadium
15:00hrs
Red Arrows has beaten Lusaka Dynamos 5 times in the last 12 games. In that period two games ended in draws while Lusaka dynamos boast of four victories. Last season this was one of the best games of Conlyde Luchanga in the game that ended 1-1 at sunset Stadium while the game at Nkoloma red Arrows won 2-1.
But Conlyde is with the National team but look out for Kennedy Musonda who is doing it for Lusaka Dynamos and so far he has three goals.
Red Arrows need to start winning and bring back that belief in the 2004 Champions. The team has not recovered yet and their fans will be hoping this is the time to perform in a Lusaka derby. This will be a close win.
Prediction: Red Arrows 2-0 Lusaka Dynamos
Green Eagles Vs Lusaka Tigers
Independence Stadium (Choma)
15:00hrs
This is the game of the weekend for me and it’s a game that brings together defensive teams who don’t enjoy scoring. Green Eagles are a 1-0 team if they win and it’s always difficult for them to score more than one.
Lusaka Tigers come to the game having the best record of draws so far this season and another draw would mean going above Forest Rangers on goal difference.
Green Eagles will be desperate in a hurry to move out of that relegation zone with a win and hoping Lusaka Dynamos and lose at Nkoloma. It’s tight at the bottom of the league table as only Mufulira Blackpool look stuck at that position.
If Green Eagles is to survive relegation these are the games they will have to win or else they may just be preparing to go into zone four.
They are affected with a lot of injury but no doubt they have the team that can get three points. Chinama is also close from eviction so am sure he will motivate his players to put a good show but then the visitor is TIGER TANAKA.
Prediction: Green Eagles 1-0 Lusaka Tigers
Nkwazi Vs Nchanga Rangers
Edwin Imboela Stadium
15:00hrs
There is something interesting about these two sides in relation to their past games.
Last 12 won four, lost four and drew four is what explains their head to head record.
Last season Nkwazi won in Lusaka and Nchanga won in Chingola.
Nkwazi is sixth and Nchanga is ninth. If Nchanga is to have an away win they will only be behind with a point from Nkwazi who have 19 points.
I just think this game is more poised to a home win than an away result.
Prediction: Nkwazi 2-1 Nchanga Rangers
Sunday 5th June 2016
NAPSA Stars Vs Nkana
Woodland
15:00hrs
NAPSA even when they are having a bad patch they wake up well against Nkana and this is one fixture that Nkana don’t enjoy.
In the last 8 games between these two sides NAPSA has five wins compared to two of Nkana with the other game ending in a draw.
Last season NAPSA did a double over Nkana and I did watch that game with Rodgers Kande at Nkana Stadium where Nkana couldn’t just be at the same pace with NAPSA.
Nkana last beat NAPSA in 2013 at Nkana Stadium but again they lost at Woodlands that season. The other win was in 2012 where Nkana convincingly beat NAPSA at Nkana Stadium 3-1. But truth be told Nkana do know how to beat NAPSA in Lusaka and this trend may continue.
Nkana has impressed on the road this season with only one loss away to Green Buffaloes and a win away to Nkwazi and Nakambala meant Nkana is a seriously contender for the title.
NAPSA can have all the best record against Nkana but this Nkana of this season knows what they want on the road and they will get the three points here.
Prediction: NAPSA 0-2 Nkana
Forest Rangers Vs ZANACO
Trade Fair Ground
15:00hrs
Zanaco feels at home playing in Ndola worse more at Levy Mwanawasa and you just have to enjoy the freedom Zanaco has playing in that stadium.
But unfortunately for those unconfirmed stories suggest that this game will be at Trade Fair Ground that will be a plus for Forest Rangers.
By the time ZANACO is playing this game they would have known the fate of Nkana in Lusaka and that will be motivation enough buy my experience in this year’s super league shows that teams don’t know how to do catch up as a lot of pressure is piled on the team to perform so as to catch up with the other team.
Zanaco did a double against forest Rangers in 2015 winning both ties 1-0. The last six games between these two sides in the super league has 6 wins for Zanaco and 7 draws.
Forest rangers has 2 wins. Am inclined with a ZANACO win but thinking Forest may just dent ZANACO with another draw.
Prediction:Forest Rangers 1-1 ZANACO
ZESCO United Vs Green Buffaloes
Postponed
ENJOY THE GAMES
