Who goes to the final

Nkana last won the Charity Shield in 2014 after beating Red Arrows 3-1.

Zesco on the hand last won it in 2015 beating Nkana by a similar goal margin to the previous season scoreline.

ZANACO had its named etched on this trophy way back in 2006 via a 1nil scoreline against Forest Rangers.

Meanwhile Power Dynamos are coming to this tournament as defending champions after beating Green Buffaloes 1-0 at the start of the 2016 season.

Previews

Thursday 30th March 2017
Power Dynamos Vs Zesco United
13:00hrs

This can be dubbed as a repeat of the 2016 semi finals and when the two teams met at the same stage.

There will be nothing short on the minds of ZESCO other than to revenge that penalty loss of last year at Nkoloma stadium.

Power Dynamos looks more of a changed side than that team that beat ZESCO while Zesco has almost maintained a relatively the same shape of a team, but both teams have new faces on the technical bench.

These teams met three times last season two in the league and one in this competition.

ZESCO did a double over Power Dynamos via a 6-1 aggregate in the league tussle and that is another feet Power Dynamos will be trying to avoid this season.

Interestingly these teams in the last 22 in the super league have equal statistical permutations of 9 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses but its Power with a better goal tally having scored 26 and allowed 23 .

Its always been a tight contest at whatever level and we are about to experience another tight encounter in this copperbelt battle.

Coming to the game plan, Zesco have survived CAF Confederation scare and are through to the play offs and Nigeria side Enugu Rangers is waiting in que for the malaiti boys in a two legged encounter to decide their fate in that competition.

That means they have been active already while Power Dynamos will rely on the Zimbabwe tour and hoping that was enough for Dan Kabwe to choose his best starting eleven.

Am not yet convinced by Zlat new ZESCO United coach and this will be a first real test for him on the Zambian front and meeting a serious tactician in Dan Kabwe makes this contest even more mouthwatering to look out for.

I think Dan Kabwe has players to compete in this one and he will be looking for goals from Lyson Sikaonga and Godfrey Ngwenya his new entrants from Roan United and Kabwe Warriors respectively.

This one is a close one and another difficult one to predict but I think its in Power Dynamos hands to lose especially that Zlat will have another eye in the CAF games.

An opportunity for Power to bag an early silverware. But Zesco has players who can spoil the Dan Kabwe party at home

My Verdict : Power Dynamos 2-1 ZESCO United.
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Nkana Vs ZANACO
15:00hrs
The mention of this fixture brings memories o the three games between these teams last season.

ZANACO won two and lost one to Nkana last season. ZANACO scored 8 goals and and Nkana scored 4 goals in those games.

This is a big test for former Zambian international Zeddy Saileti who took over from Aggrey CHIYANGI, while Numba Mumambs who is believed to be improving in his career will fancy this opportunity of getting the better of Zeddy in his first competitive game.

ZANACO is not the same team that beat Nkana 4-0 in the Barclays Cup as some names have changed but they have showed they can still compete after negotiating their passage into the group stage of the CAF Champions league against Zambian tutored side of Tanzania and Nkana should be weary of this fact.

Of interest will be Aaron Katebe and how fancies doing damage to his old club and that he helped to the title last season.

It will be interesting to see how he plays in this encounter.

This is a good chance for Nkana to inflict some measure of revenge by posting an early edge on ZANACO because it will be really hard for ZANACO at the moment to replicate those goals of the 2016 season.

While the bola machine of free scoring Walter Bwalya looks like he will continue were he left from last season.

Tactically Numba can marshal his boys to avoid an influx of goals but the challenge will be going forward. Should ZANACO get an early goal it could be a busy and difficuly afternoon for Nkana in Kitwe. I think Zeddy will be up for thid one his with his boys and win this one.

I think Nkana will revenge the 4-0 beating at Arthur Davies and win this one.

My Verdict: Nkana 3-1 ZANACO