THE YEAR IS 2016 AND BANKERS HOPE TO GET THE 7TH

ZANACO! CAN THEY BREAK THE WAIT FROM 2012?
One of the team that has seriously assembled a good team for the coming season is ZANACO and you have to seriously think they will mount a lot of pressure on ZESCO to hand over the title. Zanaco will also be Africa trotting in the CAF confederation cup and that sometimes brings a lot of pressure and miss out on serious priority for the season.

ZANACO for me are the giants of this mellenium and should they put a good run and order in terms of consistence they are more likely to catch up with teams like Mufulira Wanderers on the league honours. they are behind by three. This is the best team for me after the years started counting 2000
*************************
ZANACO HIGHLIGHTS
SUPER LEAGUE
ZANACO has six league titles which they managed to collect in a period of 10 years that’s a record that is yet to be beaten. their first title came in 2002 and managed to defend the league the following year in 2003.
Zanaco failed to make a treble line up in 2004 as Red Arrows grabbed the title of them but Zanaco grabbed their third title in 2005 away from Red Arrows. Just as they did in 2003 managed to defend the title in 2006.
They gave up the title to Zesco in 2007 and 2008 to Zesco but came back to reclaim it in 2009.
The sixth title was in 2012 and that was the last time the BANKERS got the league title.
***************************
OTHER HONOURS
Mosi Cup
ZANACO played in their first Mosi Cup final in 1998 and it left the team disappointed after having had the best of chances and possession in the game. the game was played against Konkola Blades and ZANACO lost that encounter 2-1 after leading.
Konkola Blades 2-1 Zanaco
ZANACO had to wait for four years to play another final in the Mosi Cup and the finalist in 2002 were Power Dynamos.
The game ended 2-2 and ZANACO won their first Mosi Cup that year through penalty shoot outs 3-2.
Zanaco 2-2 Power Dynamos [3-2 pen]
That was the once Zanaco won the Mosi Cup.
Note that there have been 47 MOSI cup titles and Mighty have 9 while Zanaco only have one.

*******************************
BP TOP EIGHT
The first time Zanaco played a final in the BP top eight was in 1987 and that game came against Zesco United . Zesco lost 1-0.
1987 Zanaco 1-0 ZESCO United
Zanaco are good at defending trophies and they did defend the BP top 8 in 1988 this time beating Power Dynamos 2-0.
1988 Zanaco 2-0 Power Dynamos
Zanaco would then wait for three years until 2001 to be in the next final which Power Dynamos avanged and beat the Bankers 2-1
2001 Power Dynamos 2-1 Zanaco
The next final then came in 2004 against Kitwe United which the boys from Kitwe beat Zanaco 1-0 after extra time.
2004 Kitwe United 1-0 Zanaco [aet]
In 2006 Zanaco came back in the final to grab their third BP title with a massive win against Nchanga rangers who they beat 3-1.
2006 Zanaco 3-1 Nchanga Rangers
***********
Coca Cola Cup
Zanaco are the record holders of Coca cola Cup having won it twice. it’s also important to note that Coca cola only have seven titles to its name in this tournament.
Zanaco won the first one in 2001 beating Mufulira Wanderers 1-0 after extra time.
They cam back again in 2004 when they played Red Arrows in the final beating Red Arrows 2-0. Red Arrows though have the most runners up having been to three finals without winning
****************
UNSUCCESSFUL TOURNAMENTS
Barclays Cup
ZANACO has never won the Barclays Cup in its history but have played one final which they lost to Zesco United in 2010 with the game ending 2-0.
**********************
CHARITY SHIELD
Zanaco have played in four Charity Shield finals . winning two and losing two. the two losses were against Power Dynamos in 2013 and 2004 respectively but managed to beat Power Dynamos in 2001 and Forest Rangers in 2006.
summary.
2001 Zanaco 1-0 Power Dynamos
2004 Power Dynamos 2-1 Zanaco
2006 Zanaco 1-0 Forest Rangers
2013 Power Dynamos 2-1 Zanaco
************************
2015 HOME SUPER LEAGUE RECORD FOR ZANACO
ZANACO just like the 2014 season started ruthless at home though they drew the first game at home against their tenants in Lusaka Dynamos. but over all their home form was very good. Zanaco won 10 games at home drew four and only lost once to Zesco United. pretty good record at home.
Zanaco only dropped 11 points at home and collected 34 points. the best of all the teams in the super league at home in 2015 season.
*********
2016 PROSPECTS
It’s clear that the goals of ZANACO this season is to win the league. The won the league in 2012, finished third in 2014, Second in 2015 and we know what the next finishing position after that record would be expected at Sunset Stadium.
For me the destruction will the CAF CONFEDERATION and their objective in that tournament is at least to get into the group stage. the executive is comfortable with the team that has been lined up to challenge for the title as well as get into the Group stage of the Confederation cup.
We may as well look at the squad registered in CAF here:

Zanaco FC 2016 CAF Confederation Cup Squad
(27 Registered for CAF Confederation Cup)
GOALKEEPERS
1.Racha Kola
18.Mangani Banda
16.Toaster Nsabata

DEFENDERS
3.Ziyo Tembo
5.Aaron Katebe
6.Peter Jacob Banda
29.Mwelwa Sakala
26.Fackson Kapumbu
19.Gift Sakuwaha
8.Lee Ngoma
24.Derrick Mwansa
25.George Chilufya

MIDFIELDERS
21. Boyd Musonda
27.Salulani Phiri
15.Logic Chingandu
13.Rodrick Kabwe
20.Isaac Chansa
12.Ernest Mbewe
22.Augustine Mulenga
10.Potipher Zulu
17.Aubrey Funga
14.Richard Kasonde
11.Charles Zulu

FOWARDS
30.Fashion Sakala
9.Moses Phiri
23.Davy Daka
7.Saith Sakala

MY VERDICT
ZANACO really impresses when the season opens and the challenge is to maintain that tempo until the end of the season. I still feel their pain of losing the league on the last day in 2014 away at Red Arrows the consequence which even made them lose out for CAF games.
ZANACO makes mistakes I think which make them lose the league. it’s a team that is able to beat Mighty away after failing and losing to struggling National Assembly.
It’s that inconsistent that will surely hinder their aspirations from winning the league and unfortunately they are preparing too well for the season when their rivals are also seriously preparing. ZANACO I feel will be close but the league will again be too near yet to far. They may just be in the top three again.
**********************
ALL THE BEST THE BANKERS IN THE 2016 SEASON

Bwezani Mbewe

Follower of the Zambian game!!!!!