My View in the FAZ MTN Super League in week One!!!
We are under way!!!!!
Welcome football fanatics to the 2017 season, Its been a long wait but we can’t wait anymore because the season is here and get around the country to give updates on the soccer frontt from different stadiums.
On the first week we shall have 9 games with one postponed as Zesco is engaging Enugu Rangers in Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Here are our line of fixtures :
Saturday 8th April 2017
City of Lusaka Vs Green Eagles
Sunset Stadium
13:00hrs
City of Lusaka are back in the Super League and the last time they participated was in 2010 when they finished 14th in the Super league and were relegated . That season they played 27 games , won 6 , drew 6 and lost 15. The Pride of Lusaka scored only 15 goals that and conceded 37 ending on 24 points and relegated to division one.
They are back , hoping to stay in the super league and their journey starts at Sunset in the early kick off encounter against Green Eagles of Choma.
The two teams have four encounters at this level and those four came in 2009 and 2010 season. By then Green Eagles was called Choma Eagles. In 2010, Green Eagles beat City of Lusaka 4-0 in Choma and drew 1-1 in Lusaka. The 2009 version was shared of points and the home team won by 1-0 in both games.
They lock horns again, City of Lusaka under Elijah Chikwanda and Green Eagles under Manfred Chabinga. Its an interesting tie and I know city will have all the support but Manfred is experienced and I think he will get this one.
My Verdict: City of Lusaka 1-0 Green Eagles
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Zanaco Red Arrows
Sunset Stadium
15:00hrs
Another big game of the weekend and a lot of expectations from both teams in this encounter. Zanaco at home start their defence of the league against Honor Janza’s Red Arrows who also think this could be their season. Book makers have ruled out ZANACO to defending the title but Numba Mumamba has been on this road before and he will be up for this encounter.
ZANACO did a double against Red Arrows last season and the head to head record favours the defending champions. In the count of the last 22 games, Zanaco has won 10, drawn 4 and lost 8 . But Red Arrows has picked three points before away at Sunset. In 2011, and 2013 Red Arrows won away 1-0, Same with 2007 and 2008 via a 2-0 and 3-0 respectively, ZANACO even with the good record have allowed more goals in these 22 encounters than they have forced, the ratio of 21-23.
Again it will be a close to call encounter but ZANACO are favourites though they will be wondering where the goals will come from. Mundia will still be a threat for ZANACO. I think being on the first day…the two teams will be very cautious of the other and it may end up in a draw.
My Verdict: ZANACO 1-1 Red Arrows
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Postponed
Zesco United Vs Konkola Blades
(Zesco away to Nigeria)
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NAPSA Stars Vs Nchanga Rangers
Sunset Stadium
15:00hrs
Nchanga starts another season away from home just like in the 2016 season when they lost to Lusaka Tigers on the first day. They are away to Nchanga Rangers hoping to have a positive start and be among the great clubs of the season. Not much is known of what has been happening with Nchanga Rangers in the off season but watch out for interesting players that made it after the trails.
Napsa on the other hand have a more serious objective of the season. Theirs is to win the league or finish in the top four. whether that is possible we shall only wait for December 2017.
Napsa Stars is always strong against Nchanga Rangers and this won’t be any different, in the last 10 games Nchanga Rangers only has two wins and a draw against NAPSA while NAPSA boasts of the 7 wins. Last year Napsa did a double on Nchanga Rangers, winning 1-0 in both games home and away. They will continue the dominance over Nchanga Rangers in this one. Nchanga Rangers have never won at the home of Napsa and they will hope to break that statistic . I think Napsa will win in this encounter.
My Verdict: Napsa Stars 3-1 Nchanga Rangers
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Nkana Vs Nakambala Leopards
Nkana Stadium
15:00hrs
Nkana look good and Nakambala Leopards should brace themselves for a difficult game. Nakambala are back in the Super League after the Association increased the teams to 20 and I really don’t know if they are ready for super league. They have also been mute on signings so it will be interesting to see how they pan out against the Kitwe giants.
In the past this encounter has been very tough with a lot of draws but last season Nkana did a double over Nakambala Leopards beating them 6-3 in Kitwe and 1-0 in Mazabuka but overall in the last 10 games, Nkana has 4 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss. Nkana look set to continue with a win in this encounter as Moses Mapulanga could be playing against his former team.
My Verdict: Nkana 4-1 Nakambala Leopards
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Kabwe Warriors Vs Nkwazi
Godfrey Chitalu Stadium
15:00hrs
Chintu Kampamba starts this season as head coach at home against Nkwazi. The waiting is over and its time to put things correctly . Nkwazi coached by Albert Mpande has had a descent Pre season and he will have to prove to his superior that he is ready for this challenge. Actually both coaches in this encounter have the same pressure of performing. I did talk to Mpande in Livingstone recently and he assured me that he is going for the title. This game may not be a decider but will tell what the two teams have been up to.
Kabwe Warriors have serious challenges beating Nkwazi in recent times ! in the last 13 games , Warriors only have one win yet Nkwazi has 5, 6 have been draws. Last season Kabwe led at this stadium and Nkwazi equalised late on to deny Chintu the three points. The game played in Lusaka Nkwazi won by 4-1 score line.
Am not convinced by both coaches yet but I think the one at home will have the advantage. Steward Chikandiwa and Kalaba Chikwanda should be very good if Nkwazi is to come out with something in this encounter. Am seeing a Chintu Kampamba win.
My Verdict: Kabwe Warriors 1-0 Nkwazi
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Real Nakonde Vs Buildcon
New Stadium
15:00hrs
Both of these teams are the entrants from division one, with Buildcon qualifying from Zone four while Real Nakonde made it from zone three. The moment of truth is here and they have to start the fight to remain in the super league.
Buildcon has been in the limelight over the foreign based players signed and that alone is a big challenge for Real Nakonde to get anything in this encounter. But truth to say Real Nakonde has had intensive training in Ndola and they will be ready for Buildcon. They held Mbeya City of Tanzania in a friendly and that alone is a big statement but I think Buildcon has more quality than Real Nakonde. This is the first meeting of these teams and I think Buildcon will get it. It will also be interesting to find out after this game the experience of travelling to Nakonde by Buildcon.
Take note this is the first Super league game in Muchinga Provinces as well as the old Northern Province put together. Real Nakonde is making history and I hope that history will start with a win. But Buildcon will be too strong.
My Verdict : Buildcon 2-1 Real Nakonde
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Lumwana Radiants Vs Forest Rangers
Lumwana Grounds
15:00hrs
This is the only team last season that Lumwana Radiants enjoyed a double! Beat them 2-1 in Ndola and 1-0 in Lumwana . This one will be a different ball game especially that it is happening on the first day of the season. Lumwana Radiants welcome back their head coach Bestone Chambishi who has been with the Under 20 national team for a long time now. There is a big possibility that some of the under 20 heroes will follow their coach to Lumwana which will be a boost for the North Western outfit. Not much this Pre season has been heard from Forest Rangers. They have been one team that have really been in the low and hence don’t know what to expect in this game.
These two teams will be careful with opening up and hence think it will end in a draw.
Mh Verdict: Lumwana 1-1 Forest Rangers
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Sunday 9th April 2017
Green Buffaloes Vs Mufulira Wanderers
Heroes Stadium
13:00hrs
Green Buffaloes has been too strong against Mufulira Wanderers in the last two seasons , scoring 8 and conceding only 2 is a big difference. GBFC benefited Mike Katiba from Mufulira Wanderers for this season and it will be interesting to see how he performs against his former team.
Mufulira Wanderers have struggled with signings of players in the off season and fans will hope all is in order and all players are cleared to play otherwise this one is a tough encounter . GBFC will still be strong for Mufulira Wanderers and head coach for GBFC Bilton Musonda would have joined the boys by the kick off of this game.
Mufulira Wanderers will have to wait for sometime before they beat Green Buffaloes. Am thinking Mike Katiba will score against his former team. But take note , we don’t know what to expect with this Mufulira Wanderers team. It could surprise everyone including Green Buffaloes.
Mg Verdict : Green Buffaloes 2-0 Mufulira Wanderers
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Lusaka Dynamos Vs Power Dynamos
Heroes stadium
15:00hrs
This is no longer an ordinary fixture but now could be called a big game. Lusaka Dynamos is no longer the team that teams would count points before they play them. Its as big as the top four teams and teams will struggle against Lusaka Dynamos this season.
The visitor is Power Dynamos who should bounce back after that embarrassing defeat to Zesco United in the semi finals of the Charity Shield a week ago. I need to watch this encounter because without a doubt it will raise eye brows and I have to witness what Lusaka Dynamos is up to.
Power Dynamos beat Lusaka Dynamos 4-1 in Kitwe last season and drew 0-0 in Lusaka but overall in the last 14 games, Power Dynamos has 7 wins , 4 draws and have lost 3 times to Lusaka Dynamos . The last time Lusaka Dynamos beat Power Dynamos was in 2009 via a 2-0 score line and the other two victories came 2008 and 2007 respectively. They have a big chance of getting this one but it won’t be easy.
Dany Kabwe proved a very good tactician last season and starting the seson in charge will be an interesting aspect. Power Dynamos should start getting goals than only passing the ball. They have Lyson Sikaonga who has proved to be lethal striker in the off season and the hope is he will continue scoring through and through !
I don’t know how Lusaka Dynamos will line up in this encounter and that is the challenge that Dan Kabwe has, he doesn’t know what to expect with Lusaka Dynamos hence making this contest interesting.
I think this will be a draw.
My Verdict: Lusaka Dynamos 2-2 Power Dynamos
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Enjoy the games
