My view in the FAZ MTN Super League in week 31

key games

It’s a tight race for relegation and that’s where I will pick the game of the weekend as Mufulira Wanderers takes on Lumwana Radiants at Shinde. There are also crunch encounters and one is at Independence Stadium where Green Buffaloes will be taking on ZESCO United straight from a defeat at the hands of Nkwazi at Nkoloma Stadium.

Its Zambian football at its best.

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Friday 28th October 2016

Kabwe Warriors Vs Mufulira Blackpool

Godfrey Chitalu Stadium

15:00hrs

Kabwe Warriors opens week 31 in Kabwe as they host relegated Mufulira Blackpool at Godfrey Ucar Chitalu. Mufulira Blackpool still winless for the season and accounts for 12 draws that gives them 12 points. How they wish they can insert a different number on the column of wins but unfortunately that can only be don’t on the field of play. They were very close over the last weekend against Green Eagles but guess lucky wasn’t on their side.

The activities at Kachofa stadium last weekend gives an indication of how much the team needs a win and I repeat that they will be very difficult to beat in their last games because they don’t want to go back to division one as a team that participated in the super league and came back to the zones without a win.

Unfortunately, they are away to Kabwe Warriors who also need a win to get into the 40-point bracket which looks to be the safety zone this season. I don’t think Kabwe Warriors will lose this one at home but then it’s a team that has to have confidence and play as a team. There is so much individual football in the Kabwe Warriors team at the moment and how I wish Chintu has observed that and rectified it. The performance of Kabwe Warriors against Nkwazi in the last game was very disappointing and it is shocking that a team playing at home would start wasting time in the 60 minute defending one goal. It’s that mentality that has to be changed in those players. They are lucky they will win this one.

MY VEDICT: Kabwe Warriors 2-0 Mufulira Blackpool

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Saturday 29th October 2016

Power Dynamos Vs Nakambala Leopards

Arthur Davies Stadium

15:00hrs

Nakambala are back in Kitwe after the mauling of 6-3 last weekend. They play Power Dynamos who are in a hurry to forget what happened on Sunday against Mufulira Wanderers were their game was abandoned.

A lot has been said about that incidence but then Nakambala come knocking and this is another tough encounter. Nakambala are not safe from relegation yet and they could find themselves one spot into relegation is they lose this one and their competitors in relegation win their encounters. Nakambala has 34 points and should Green Eagles win their encounter away to Lusaka Tigers then Nakambala lose, its real relegation fight.

But Power has to prove themselves in this encounter and put their season back in order, it has in recent weeks looked very good under Dan Kabwe but all of a sudden thing don’t seem to be working and they wouldn’t want to lose more points in this encounter. It will be a tough game for Nakambala because Power will attack as much as possible. I think Power will win.

MY VERDICT: Power Dynamos 2-1 Nakambala Leopards

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Mufulira Wanderers VS Lumwana Radiants

Shinde Stadium

15:00hrs

This is the game of the week for me and I hope the fans behave because we don’t want any more abandoned games. The games between these two sides have been interesting in the past and have been very close. In 2014 in division one, Lumwana lost at Shinde 1-0 and drew in Lumwana 0-0.

This season in Lumwana the game ended 2-2 with a late penalty for Lumwana and this one will be again a cagey game for both teams. On evidence that we saw of Lumwana against Green Buffaloes on Sunday goes to say this tie is not already won and it will be a tough encounter for both teams. I though Lumwana Radiants played very well against Green Buffaloes and they didn’t deserve to lose that one. Am sure Bestone Chambishi will be telling his lads that if you can’t win the game don’t lose and Lumwana is capable of holding Mufulira Wanderers at Shinde.

Mighty at home has to bring back the fear factor to the visitors which has been missing lately and all of a sudden teams think and are confident of picking points at Shinde. But the team look good all of a sudden and the recent results look good for the team.

Mufulira are on 29 pending the result of the disciplinary findings by FAZ and should they win this encounter without the verdict from FAZ, they will still be behind Lumwana by a point but it would be a serious boost as fans are already counting three goals and three points against Power Dynamos but that will have to wait.

Coming to this game, its tight and I don’t think Lumwana will play an open game, Mighty will see be a threat from the midfield which is the strength of the team and gives good cover to Warren and allows Bwembya to overlap. Mighty is lacking upfront and that will be advantage Lumwana. I think Lumwana will get appoint.

MY VERDICT: Mufulira Wanderers 1-1 Lumwana Radiants

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Lusaka Tigers Vs Green Eagles

Independence Stadium

13:00hrs

Green Eagles are fighting relegation while I think Lusaka Tigers are done and will be going back to division one. Green Eagles still fighting relegation will hope to get maximum points also pending the ruling of the abandoned game in Mufulira lasts weekend.

Green Eagles won their last game against Lusaka Tigers 1-0 in Choma on 4^th June 2016 and if they do a double they would be close to being safe from relegation especially if the FAZ ruling of the abandoned game go for them.

Green Eagles though have only won two games away this season, drawn 6 games, and lost 6 games away, they have scored 11 goals away and 8 and home. Lusaka Tigers have 4 home wins, 4 draws and 5 losses at home. They look good when playing at home and Green Eagles will be made to work extra hard for anything in that encounter. I still think Green Eagles is well drilled team that is strong on the ball and Lusaka Tigers will have to struggle.

MY VERDICT: Lusaka Tigers 1-1 Green Eagles

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Green Buffaloes Vs ZESCO United

Independence Stadium

15:00hrs

Possibly one of the great games of the weekend and potentially of being a game that could slowly hand over the league title to ZANACO, If ZESCO c drops points in this game and ZANACO beats Forest Rangers on Sunday the bridge will no longer be too far for ZANACO and they will slowly be counting ZESCO out of the title race. It’s a crucial game for ZESCO than Green Buffaloes.

The last 21 games involving the two teams have been very interesting, ZESCO winning 10, drawing 8 and only losing 3. ZESCO is always strong when these two teams meet. In those 21 games, ZESCO has scored 25 goals while Green Buffaloes have scored only 14 goals. Zesco has won 5 away and 5 at home while the three wins for GBFC have always been at the home for GBFC. The last time Green Buffaloes beat ZESCO was in 2012 when they won by a 1-0 margin and that was on 4^th August.

The artificial turf favours Green Buffaloes but ZESCO United have had very good run this season across the country and they won’t be easily intimidated by a Green Buffaloes side. GBFC to me don’t look very good especially with what I saw during the game against Lumwana last weekend. And the form of ZESCO is too strong for GBFC at the moment and Independence Stadium is wide and good for such games. I think ZESCO United will win this encounter because they can’t afford two losses in one week. .

MY VERDICT: Green Buffaloes 1-2 ZESCO United

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Nchanga Rangers VS Nkwazi

Nchanga Stadium

15:00hrs

Take note that Nchanga Rangers was as good as relegated in 2016 and they survived because two more slots were added in the Super League. Nchanga Rangers should be aware that a loss in this encounter would seriously put them into a serious relegation position especially if Green Eagles and Mufulira Wanderers pick maximum points in their games.

Nchanga needs to be very good on the day against a Nkwazi side bubbling with confidence after beating ZESCO United in the mid-week. You should admire the resilience of Nkwazi in recent games as it is a team fighting together and playing as a unit that is what is different with Nchanga Rangers. The two teams in the last 13 games have same number of credits having won 4 drawn 5 and lost 5. They have also scored the same number of goals, and conceded the same number of goals. Scored 10 and allowed 10.

I think this will be a draw

MY VERDICT: Nchanga 1-1 Nkwazi

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Sunday 30th October 2016

Nkana Vs NAPSA Stars

Nkana Stadium

15:00hrs

Nkana are in for a big fight against NAPSA this Sunday and already I remember the last visit of NAPSA at Nkana the game ended 1-0 in favour of NAPSA the game I watched with Rodgers Kande. This is one fixture that Nkana do not enjoy and the head to head in the last 9 games will actually give you that indication. NAPSA have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 2. The last time Nkana beat NAPSA at Nkana was in 2013 and that game ended 2-1 and Nkana went on to win the league title. Nkana has scored only six goals in these last 9 games and NAPSA has scored 9 goals.

I think Nkana is ready to get a third win against NAPSA but to do that they have to work on the defence as well as the goal keeper department that has exposed Nkana several times. Nkana has allowed 24 goals this season already and that has to reduce if they still have to fight for the second spot and participate in the CAF confederation Cup.

NAPSA has had a good run against Nkana but I think this will come to an end on Sunday

MY VERDICT: Nkana 2-1 Napsa

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Lusaka Dynamos Vs Red Arrows

Sunset Stadium

13:00hrs

Lusaka need a win and hoping Mufulira Wanderers and Green Eagles would lose to give some advantage to Lusaka Dynamos. But they have to beat Red Arrows to have that belief of staying in the super league. It won’t be easy as in the last 13 games in this fixture, Red Arrows have won 5 times, drawn 4 and lost 4. Red Arrows is already safe and assured of staying in the league while Lusaka Dynamos will have themselves to blame if they don’t pick maximum points in this encounter. Red Arrows may not be playing very good football at the moment but are excellent in grinding results. They won’t win this one but will get a point.

My Verdict: Lusaka Dynamos 1-1 Red Arrows

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ZANACO Vs Forest Rangers

Sunset Stadium

15:00hrs

ZANACO for me will be the winners of the 2016 title and every game they play from now will be leading them towards confirming that. This will be another game that will push in that direction. ZANACO has left three games this season and of those losses was against Forest Rangers the team they play this Sunday. The league leaders wouldn’t want to be dealt a double by Forest Rangers in a season that they really look a real deal.

In the last 17 games between these two sides, ZANACO has won 7 games drawn 7 and lost 3 and this will win their eight in this encounter

My Verdict: ZANACO 2-0 Forest Rangers

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