MY VIEWS IN THE BARCLAYS CUP QUATER FINALS
Saturday 17th September 2016
Nkana Vs Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy
Nkoloma Stadium
13:00hrs
First timers and these teams walk on the pitch for the first time to face each other. It’s a cup game and hence it has to be decided today in 90 minutes and if nothing is decided then spot kicks.
Nkana id second on the log in the super league while Kabwe Youth is third in Division One Zone Three behind Prison Leopards and Real Nakonde the log leaders. The Division One outfit is the highest scoring team in the zone with a total number of 40 goals scored but that is couple with walk overs that have characterized division one football this season.
They are playing Nkana who have scored 41 goals in the super league and only conceded 20 in the process winning 16 games from 26 games.
I don’t think I should struggle of which team will walk to the semifinals because definitely Nkana will play in the finals. What we are about to watch will be the way Kabwe Youth will try to stop Nkana from scoring as many goals but truth be told, its far apart scenario? Nkana to win but then I think the division one outfit will have a goal in the game because you can never know about Nkana defence.
MY VERDICT: Nkana 4-1 Kabwe Youth
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ZANACO Vs Kabwe Warriors
Nkoloma Stadium
15:15hrs
This is one of an all Super League Quarter final and pits the teams that have different objectives in the super league. ZANACO will be hoping to win this one for a possible double while Kabwe Warriors have this game as the only chance of silverware this season.
ZANACO is the favourite because for now they have a complete team better than what Kabwe Warriors have but this is a one off game that could be over with only one mistake or one level of brilliance so there was no way ZANACO would understate Kabwe Warriors. Forget the league form but I still think Kabwe Warriors should work extra hard to stop the Fashion, Aubrey, Roderick partnership from scoring. The bench for ZANACO is also very impressive and I just think they have too much for Kabwe Warriors.
MY VERDICT: ZANACO 2-1 Kabwe Warriors
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Sunday 18th September
Green Buffaloes Vs Power Dynamos
Nkoloma Stadium
15:00hrs
It’s too close to call and as much as Power Dynamos were the victor in the league game that ended 4-1 but then the Barclays cup always springs surprises.
The Dan Kabwe Power Dynamos is enjoying the best of form at the moment while Green Buffalloes have slackened in form and should they approach this encounter with that mentality, we may have another big score line. Power Dynamos have now convinced me that they are a big team in recent games thanks to Patson Daka the boy I always thought he was a good striker and it’s good that even Power Dynamos followers now believe in him. Jack Chirwa will continue being a threat for Power Dynamos in this encounter and if you look at the formation of these teams in the last game, Green Buffaloes should stop Power from dominating the midfield and cut supply upfront. Patson Daka is a workaholic and he can be found everywhere. I will be also interested to see how Larry Bwalya features, he has not impressed me recently but the defence of Power is well marshalled.
I will go for a tight game and very cautious for both teams but I think there is just something more that Power have missing in the GBFC team. But this is the only likely game to go to penalty shootouts.
MY VERDICT: Green Buffaloes 0-1 Power Dynamos
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