Can GBFC grab it?

I look at at GREEN BUFFALOES FC
They have been the surprising package of the 2017 calendar season. Had anyone said they will be were they are today at the start of the season. The overwhelming answer would have been not a chance….but they are and they doing it in style.

GREEN BUFFALOES

Affectionately called GBFC by a legion of Zambian fans from time in memorial. Then men in camouflage uniforms are proving me of us wrong

STRENGTH
Buffaloes have faired pretty well this season dishing worthy football to deserve a shout out as among the title contenders.

They have scored goals. These goals have come from all over their team selections. GBFC are the highest winning side along side Zesco United as at week 31.

Friday Samu has been a revelation this Bilton Musonda tutored side, while Mike Katiba and Diamond Chikwekwe are playing the games of their lives

Unlike the some managers in the league , Musonda is a man who is liked by a good number of football supporters and he is liked by his players too. He is tactically astute, rarely fails to win the respect of his own dressing rooms and knows what it takes to succeed. That could be the catalyst the army side might need in final stretch.

WEAKNESSES
GBFC seem to have what one can easily describe as a bankable first eleven and that’s just about it. And that is quite unhealthy for the grueling longevity of 36 games plus other things. Changes made have had serious challenges with the team formation.

They have a thin squad The rotation has failed to yield positive results and if they fail to win the title , this would have been the reason and something Green Buffaloes should work on going forward.

CURRENT STATUS

Very positive. It has been three good seasons for GBFC and the work of the past two seasons have really paid off in this season. With an expanded team GBFC would have been a team to beat.

They have looked to be the main challengers for a while in this campaign but losing two already in the last six games is proving costly for Go Boys Fight and Conquer . Victory over Zanaco was one of the key results that made the team start believing that this was theirs to lose, but the Lumwana Radiants defeat and now Kabwe Warriors one is something that will be looked at as missed opportunities.

DISTRACTION

Like Zanaco, Bilton’s side have players that would be called for the CHAN team and other teams will reap the rewards of focusing solely on domestic matters with the full sqauds while GBFC , Zesco and ZANACO will have their key players missing. But with announcement by FAR yesterday to end the season ahead of schedule due to hosting of COSAFA under 20..it will be welcome relief to teams eyeing for the big prize.

Injuries to key personnel could derail their ambitions. The team is falling to rotate players and so far Morgan kanjolo, Steven Kabamba are all out injured.

EXPERIENCE

Historically it is incredibly high. In more recent times it is been poor. Having not won the title since 1981, Green Buffaloes looked set to pip every team this season until their forgettable slip-ups against Lumwana and Kabwe Warriors. While many of their players have never won domestic titles, apart from the Barclay’s Cup a season ago, Bilton has been around in Zambian football for a long time and he has the experience to rally his boys to keep their eye on the prize.

KEY PLAYERS
A toss up between two midfielders. Jack Chirwa is the player the club’s fans would least like to depart for any club and the midfielder has been at the top of his game this season.
The defence of Adrian Chama and Buchizya is working okay. Malani Gondwe as well as the left back Emmanuel Museka have been doing fine and some more consistency, and GBFC may just be in the Top Four at the end of the season.

Mike Katiba is in form proving he was a worthy from the football town of Mufulira and he looks a different player from he was playing Mufulira Wanderers.

BIG-MATCH TEMPERAMENT

Go back to that ZANACO match and the omens are not great. However, this season GBFC have been a totally different side and have accounted themselves well against the big boys in the league beating Nkana along the way.

REMAINING FIXTURES

Of all the potential title challengers, GBFC appear to have so many tricky encounters in their way leading to the last seven games purely based on remaining fixtures.

Of the teams they still have to play in the top half of the table, Bilton’s side will host four of them at Edwin Imboela with only three away games. The run-in could also be tougher, the three away games are tough, Power Dynmos who they beat in Lusaka, Money bags Buildcon who beat them in the first round and Red Arrows fellow military attaches in the last away encounters which has more draws than any other.

SO, CAN THEY WIN THE TITLE?
They stand a good chance just like anyone of overtaking ZANACO and triumphing at the end of the season.
But the odds are against them, the slip up undo the good work that this team has done this season. They need to be more resolute

Can they get over the mental block that has so often held them back?
My honest opinion is I doubt and GBFC will actually be lucky to finish in the top four. They need more players to do that and this season its too late!

GBFC wont win the title, at least not this season.

Next Up for Analysis: ZESCO UNITED