When the draw was made pitting ZESCO United with JKU of Zanzibar in the preliminary stage of the CAF Champions League, everyone was expecting something exceptional from the Zambian Champions.

A trip to Zanzibar in the first leg ended in a dreary goalless affair between the two sides, at the Amaan Stadium on 10 February 2018.

Critics drew their knives aiming for Tenant Chembo’s throat. ZESCO United’s Champions League campaign was looking like it might have a premature end.

The two sides came head to head again yesterday on Wednesday 21st February 2018 with the visiting Zanzibar Champions hoping to complete their mission of a major upset.

I was privileged to have one of the best seats in the house at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola.

From kick off, Jacob Banda was rarely threatened at all in the ZESCO United goal. He barely had anything to do apart from taking goal kicks from a failed shot at goal from the visiting team.

New boy Zikiru Adams announced his arrival four minutes into the game with a well taken tap in from a Jesse Jackson Were assist.

Lazarous Kambole made it 2-0 in the 36th minute from 35 yards and Adams made the tie safe in the 44th minute with his second.

The Ghanaian completed his debut hattrick in the 57th minute to make it 4-0 for Team Yaziko.

But Adams wasn’t done yet. After good work from Jesse Were on the right, the only thing standing in his way was himself and the striker buried his chance in the bottom right hand side of the keeper.

The returning Winston Kalengo replaced Zikiru Adams and got himself on the score board to make it 6-0 for the home side.

U20 international Lameck Banda completed the rout converting from the penalty spot to make it 7-0, a delightful ending to what started as a nervy encounter.

JKU will be going back home feeling burnt after allowing an avalanche of goals at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium while ZESCO United progress with ease and a bit of reprieve for Tenant Chembo.

Kelvin Trudeau Musako

Football Journalist | TotalEnergies AFCON 2021 Photographer | Media Officer - Kabwe Warriors FC | Graphic Designer | Videographer