Nkana to test Zanaco’s domestic mettle

Zanaco

Zanaco

Zanaco’s domestic appetite will be tested on Thursday when they face Nkana in the 2017 Charity Shield semifinals at the Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.

The defending Faz Super League Champions have been unconvincing despite being unbeaten in their first four competitive games in 2017.

Those four matches have all come in the 2017 Champions League knockout round, but Zanaco have collected just one win and three draws, scoring two goals en route to their group phase qualification.

Nkana will be an interesting opponent for Zanaco in what will be both sides’ first domestic game of the 2017 season.

This is especially so after a player run in the 2017 off-season at Zanaco that saw them lose eight key players, including midfielder Isaac Chansa and Under-20 star striker Fashion Sakala, who moved to Iraq and Russia respectively.

Zanaco also have not beaten Nkana away since 2012 and their last visit to Kitwe in 2016 saw them lose 4-2 in the league on August 27.

“Well, the boys are ready. It will be a tough game, because we will all be fighting the reach the final,” Zanaco coach Mumamba Numba said.

“No game is never easy. Nkana have a good team but we just have to win.”

Numba has cause to worry with Nkana strikers Walter Bwalya and Ronald Kampamba, who scored a brace and one goal respectively in that 4-2 defeat, looking convincing for the Kitwe side during the preseason so far.

The winner will face either Power Dynamos or Zesco United in the Charity Shield final on April 2 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*