RELEGATION BATTLE AFTER WEEK 36.
We keep plunging into the unknown and week 36 on wednesday afternoon couldnt add any new colour to the battle for survival. We keep the hunt for that one team which will go crest fallen and join Real Nakonde, City of Lusaka and Konkola Blades.
The loudest zone suspects in this regard still remain Nakambala Leopards who drew with Konkola blades.
Green Eagles who donated three precious points to Nkana, Nchanga Rangers who stopped Mufulira Wanderers, Mufulira Wanderers who lost to Nchanga and Kabwe Warriors the draw specialists who in a signature display drew with Napsa stars.
Here we go
MUFULIRA WANDERERS
Panning off the last two encounters, let me start with Mighty.
Mufulira Wanderers at 39 points seem to have now locked themselves in a basket of rotten eggs after that loss to Nchanga. They now have two matches left, against Nkana at home and away to the unforgiving Zesco United. On the other hand the recent past shows that both Zesco and Nkana have been dropping points at Shinde and ruling mighty out is still too early a call. A lot can still change the dimension of who touches the very bottom of the dungeon.
The biggest test is their away trip to Levy Mwanawasa where Mighty has only managed a point in the last two seasons. That will be a Kilimanjaro to climb as if all teams indicated above keep winning then Mighty regardless of what they offer will go to the zones.
The only consolation to the Mighty Fans is that two teams fighting for survival will still have to square against each other when Nakambala visits Chingola to face Nchanga.
The mighty Fans will watch that one with their right foot on their left toes as the results might mean well for Mighty and disastrous to the team’s involved.
KABWE WARRIORS (39 POINTS)
The chikwanda drilled railway men are only out of the relegation fire due to a superior goal difference. Their last two matches are Lusaka Dynamos away and Power Dynamos at home and there should be no other way out of the predicament. They need to win or Kysa takes their place of glory in Kabwe.
KABWE WARRIORS only managed a barren draw against Lusaka Dynamos in the first leg and they donated all the three points at Arthur Davies via Luka Lungu and Billy Mutale strikes. It ended 2-1.
These will be a hell of games for Warriors especially that Lusaka Dynamos will be casting an evil eye on the game at Shinde knowing that a Nkana loss and their win in Kabwe will give them some hope of a top four finish on the last day of the barbed 2017 ZSL.
Warriors are in between the devil and the deep blue sea in this regard, the only positive result will be a win other wise all curtains will close. Sorry Doc Mpundu, its the last thing you want to hear.
NCHANGA RANGERS (40 POINTS)
The three point bagged against Wanderes was pivotal and that might be all they needed to float above the waters of relegation till the last whistle of the season is blown.
They have got some sweet cherry fixtures against Nakambala and Konkola blades and three points out of this possible six might be enough to see them play top flight football next season. They will only need the other games to end in draws. However, they will need all the six points to be safe. The immediate encounter in Chililabombwe will be the most crucial.
A loss there will mean vaulting all celebrations we saw when they edged past Mighty. Konkola Blades could be excited to throw some more drama in the race for survival and the other motivation could be dragging one team with them in the bottom four. Yes, Kings never die alone.
GREEN EAGLES (40 POINTS)
One has to feel for Green Eagles. They have had a good season and i feel they cant explain to themselves why they find themselves in this equation. They beat Zanaco at home and four two weeks they comfortably sat in the top four. What then shook the storm’s of their ocean?
The loss to Lumwana was the beginning of it all. They now have a cluster of tricky encounters that might see them play division one after a number of years in the top flight.
They will have to play Zesco at home and Green Buffalos away. The two have already qualified for African football but they still need points to end the season in perfect dream land.
Should Eagles lose these games and Mighty for example gets the two draws and other teams pick points, then Eagles will belong to the ages.
NAKAMBALA LEOPARDS (41 POINTS)
That one point at home to Konkola sends Nakambala a cut above everyone else. They however still have Napsa and Nchanga to negotiate with. One win i feel will be enough sweetener for the not so sweet sugar boys but who donates those three points. Nakambala has been quite good and personally, I don’t see them going down.
WHO THEN GOES DOWN?
You may have a different version of these permutations and believe me its not been Eagles’ season. It’s not an easy road to walk through but because I am asked to give my opinion:
GREEN EAGLES ARE IN DEEP DANGER, they won’t climb out.
