GBFC LOOKING FOR BARCLAYS CUP MOTIVATION IN THE ZSL 2016 SEASON

GREEN BUFFALOES
THE 2015 BARCLAYS CUP WINNERS! COULD THEY CONTINUE FROM 2015.
The Barclays Cup finalists and winners of 2015 were one of the best teams last season after struggling a bit in the first part but Bilton Musonda got the right jinx and the coming of Christopher Katongo brought some stability in the team as he was handed the captain’s arm band.
This is Green Buffaloes a Zambian club based in Lusaka and play their home games at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka. Zambia Army is the sponsor of the team and this is the name that was first called in early times of the team .ZAMBIA ARMY.

HONOURS
Super League
The first title of the league that GBFC attained were in the name of Zambia Army and they won it back to back in 1973 and 1974. After that they would change its name to Green Buffaloes FC and they would win the league in the new name in 1975. Mufulira wanderers would prevent the team from getting another title in 1976 but GBFC will come back to win the title in 1977. Mufulira would get the 1978 and handover to GBFC again in 1979 before winning the sixth title in 1981.
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OTHER HONOURS
CASTLE CUP
One of the ealiest tournaments in the country is the castle cup that saw the change of name from Castle Cup to independence Cup in 1975 before finally changing to Mosi Cup in 1993.
Green Buffaloes did not win any Castle cup but their history in the finals started in the Independence Cup which they played twice in 1975 and 1980 losing both to Mufulira Wanderers and Power Dynamos respectively.

1975 Mufulira Wanderers 2-1 Green Buffaloes
1980 Power Dynamos 2-0 Green Buffaloes

After the change of name to Mosi Cup, GBFC would play the final again in 2000 but would lose to Nkana on post match penalties.

2000 Nkana FC 0-0 Green Buffaloes [7-6 pen]

The only final victory that GBFC would get in this title would only come in 2005 when they beat their rivals in Red Arrows .

2005 Green Buffaloes 2-1 Red Arrows

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BP Top Eight Cup
BP Top 8 formerly known as Challenge Cup has a number of memories for Green Buffaloes and they have featured in the finals in a total of 10 times, winning five and losing five. the details are as follows:

1974 Roan United 2-1 Zambia Army
1975 Green Buffaloes 5-4 Mufulira Wanderers
1976 Nchanga Rangers 2-1 Green Buffaloes
1977 Green Buffaloes 3-0 Rhokana United
1979 Green Buffaloes 5-2 Konkola Blades
1980 Ndola United 3-2 Green Buffaloes
1981 Green Buffaloes 4-1 Mutondo Stars
1982 Red Arrows 5-0 Green Buffaloes
1985 Green Buffaloes 6-5 Nchanga Rangers
2005 Kabwe Warriors 2-1 Green Buffaloes

Green Buffaloes is fourth on the record of this tournament. Mufulira has won a record 9 times, Kabwe Warriors 8, Nkana 7 and GBFC 5.
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Barclays Cup
This tournament has GBFC participating twice in the finals. winning one in 2015 when they beat Nkwazi 2-0 and losing one in 2009 when they were beaten 2-1 by Power Dynamos
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Champion of Champions Cup
The first time GBFC played into the final of the Champions of Champions was in 1975 and they would beat Rhokana United in that final.
Two years later in 1977 they would also qualify to the final and the opponent was Mufulira Wanderers but Mighty would be too strong in that final beating the soldiers 2-0.
Another two years would pass for another title in 1979 and GBFC would win it late in extra time beating Nchanga Rangers 2-1.
The last final GBFC would feature in the Champions of Champions would be in 1982 where they would beat Rhokana 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 all draw.
That would mean three titles for GBFC in the Champions of Champions.

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Charity Shield
This tournament was officially named Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu Memorial Cup since 2003 but started in 1967 as an opener to the league and GBFC first played in the final in 1974 under the name Zambia Army. GBFC has won it five times and every time the team is in the final they would win it. They won in in 1978,1980,2008 and 2010. The fifth was earlier when the team was called Zambia Army in 1974.
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Heinrich Cup/Chibuku Cup/Heroes and Unity
GBFC won it when it was called Heinrich’s Chibuku Cup in 1978 beating Mufulira Wanderers 3-2 and the second came in 1986.
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UNSUCCESSFUL TOURNAMENT
Coca Cola Cup
Green Buffaloes have never participated in any of the seven titles of Coca cola cup.
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PROSPECTS IN 2016
I think the team is still the same as no player has left GBFC and hence the 2016 season will be more the same from where they left in 2015 with winning the Barclays Cup. could thus be the tear for GBFC?
Yes it could be that year that they would surprise everyone and win the league especially if some teams will ignore the potential that GBFC has. No doubt the team has a good coach in Bilton Musonda and should he start the season the way he ended it then we are to see a good team.
GRAY AREA
The players think they did not get so much appreciated after winning the Barclay’s Cup with the 100,000 ry gad to share and thad was a demotivating factor sbd it hope that have gotten over it and areally ready to conqure. Am sure the Barclays Cup victory will be a good motivation to even hope for the league title in 2016.

MY VERDICT
It’s a big call to make and give GBFC a chance but I just think the top teams will be too strong and GBFC will lose their top four finish they attained last season but will compete for a top I finish.
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ALL THE BEST GBFC IN 2016 SEASON

Bwezani Mbewe

Follower of the Zambian game!!!!!