ZESCO ON THE VERGE OF SIXTH TITLE- IS IT POSSIBLE??
They have bookmakers first on the draw for the ZSL championship in the last couple of season. But kind of disappoint faintly.
ZESCO UNITED
Their faithfuls consistently refer to them as Zega Zega. They have been the team to beat since rejoining the top flight football. Enlisting themselves in top trophy teams like Nkana…Mufulira Wanderers. ..Power Dynamos and the support base has been growing exponentially.
STRENGTH
Zesco has some exceptionally good talent in the dressing but have not been performing near the their best this season.
And so much has been based on the back five/six. In Jacob Banda they have one of the goalkeepers in the country who though is not exceptional but a total warrior when called to do duty. Odiambo Owino has arguably been the best centre-back in the league this season, while Akumu and Kondwani Mtonga continue to go from strength to strength. The two offering a bravely cutting edge going forward.
Silwimba’s ability is astonishing and Kenyan Jesse Were has shown no sign of being a flash in the pan even when called upon to bury spot kicks.
Zesco have great quality of players that can fight for the team.
WEAKNESSES
It hascbeen quite some time since Zesco would struggle the way we have seen them this season. They fell away at the crucial moment last season and eventually finished second and the reason advanced was without a doubt the participation in the CAF Champions League.
In reality it was nothing less than anyone expected – Zesco will habitually stand at the final hurdle. Whether they can banish the doubters this season remains to be seen. But their biggest weakness has been the technical team who seem not to be in the same space with the players.
There is one thing that Zesco should do, if it is firing Zlat , all the members of the technical team should go or else they will again fight the incoming coach.
MANAGER
Is there another manager in the Super League who has been taunted with redicule more than Zlat? He hasnt won the affection of the players and the fans and his presence has proven a low factor in convincing many fans if Zesco was going forward or they have been undoing the work left by George Lwandamina.
DRESSSING ROOM ATMOSPHERE
The mood at Zesco could scarcely be better after crawling their way back to being serious contenders of the super league. The beating of Moneybags Lusaka Dynamos with a brilliant 3-0 win was a big statement. That victory took their own perfect run of wins to four in six games and the 16th overall and, ignoring the CAF Confederation debacle, things are looking up for Zlat’s side in the league.
DISTRACTION
Despite being dumped out of the CAF Confederation Cup , Zescos’ catch up matches are showing no sign of slowing with a draining CAF engagement. The gruelling nature of that competition has failed to take its toll in their league form and Zesco is up for this title.
EXPERIENCE
Zesco United have won the title three times in the last six years but handed it to Zanaco last season.
On occasions they have been champions, United have had to make up a lot of ground and have rattled off wins in the closing stages. Winston Kalengo, Jesse Were, Jackson Mwanza and others remain from both of those triumphs, and will be hoping for a similar sprint finish this time around.
Without a doubt experience they have in abundance.
KEY PLAYERS
If Odiambo decided that his time was up and leave United it would be an enormous loss for the club, but there is no one more important than Jesse Were. His unifying presence at the club is almost as important as the goals he bangs in with amazing regularity. They need him because even when he is off form you expect something special.
The thinking among many Zesco fans is that, while those players who occupy the bench are fine at filling in briefly when required, the majority are not up to scratch if asked to replace an injured player in the long term.
But then in reality, Zesco have good players from the bench that can still do duty.
BIG- MATCH TEMPERAMENT
There was no bigger match this season than the trip to Heroes against Lusaka Dynamos and the 1-1 draw that followed against Power Dynamos rose hopes of winning the title.
This year Zesco have not fared too badly against the big sides, but the loss to ZANACO in lusaka will be said to be worst.
REMAINING FIXTURES
They have the highest number of games to play than any other team with the two rescheduled games against City of Lusaka in the waiting. The advantage of those games in hand is that both are in Ndola.
Watch out the home game against Buildcon and by the time Zesco United visit Shinde Stadium, we shall know what will be the direction of the league title.
If that will be the decider then we expect an explosion especially if Mufulira Wanderers will still be fighting relegation.
Otherwise the rest of Nkwazi, Forest , Green Eagles and Red Arrows are tricky but winnable games by Zesco United.
CAN THEY WIN THE TITLE?
The ability is there, but the resounding feeling where Zesco United are involved is one of pessimism. If something can possibly go wrong, it will go wrong.
THE TITLE???
Yes – and they should do so. They have the points advantage and the quality to be crowned champions.
