Zesco chase home win in Champs League

Jackson Mwanza @ SS com

Zesco United begin their 2016 Caf Champions League campaign this Saturday when they host Al Ghazalla in a preliminary round, first leg tie at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

This is the first time a Zambian club will face a South Sudan opponent in continental club action since the visiting nation joined Caf in 2012.

Zesco goalkeeper Jacob Banda said they were looking for a convincing home win this weekend against their little known opponents to kick-start their race to try and reach the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2009.

“I think we have to do our best on Saturday. We have to win to go to the next round. The team is geared and is well-prepared,” Banda said.

Banda is one of four high-profile players in the Zesco lineup who shined for Zambia at the just-ended 2016 African nations Championship (Chan) in Rwanda where Chipolopolo reached the quarterfinals.

The spotlight will be on Banda again after his outstanding display at Chan where he was not breached in over 360 minutes before Zambia succumbed to a 5-4 post-match penalties loss to Guinea in the quarterfinals.

Defender Dauti Musekwa including midfielders Cletus Chama and Mwape Mwelwa will all be hoping to reprise their Chan form for the club this weekend.

However, Zesco start life without their goal-king Winston Kalengo who left in January before the Chan tournament to join AC Leopards of Congo-Brazzaville.

Meanwhile, Al Ghazalla will host Zesco in the final leg on February 26 in Juba to decide who goes through to the first round in March.