Were hat-trick puts Zesco on the cusp of ZPL title

by Helder Ribiero

Sunday May 30, 2021. 18:55

Striker Jesse Were on Sunday scored a hat-trick that put Zesco United within two points of the 2020/2021 FAZ Super League title following a 4-0 home win over demoted Kitwe United at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Zesco’s victory saw them restore their eight-point lead over second placed Zanaco on 61 and 53 points with four and three games left to play respectively.

A win in their next home game over relegation-battling Napsa Stars after the FIFA international match break on June 16 will see Zesco clinch their ninth crown on an unassailable 63 points with three matches to spare.

Zesco’s hero on Sunday Were, who scored only his first hat-trick of the season by his very high standards, said they are not taking the luxury of four outstanding games for granted to start the early title celebrations.

“We have to go back to the drawing board, we need to work harder because the last four games are not going to be easy and we will focus and keep on working hard to get the maximum points,” Were said.

The win was also a huge sigh of relief for Zesco who came into the match off a humbling 3-0 away loss to mid-table side Prison Leopards last Wednesday.

But it was an almost effortless display on Sunday against United and Zesco went three-nil into the break in a spell of 37 minutes.

Were opened his account in the 8th minute when he tapped-in a flick on the far-post from Winston Kalengo.

The Kenyan striker added the second in the 31st minute when he found a gap in between Kitwe United’s central defence and put the ball beyond goalkeeper Haveson Chingambu.

Kalengo got in on the act in the 37 minute when he slalomed through United’s defence following a one-two move with Thabani Kamusoko.

Were completed his brace in the 57th minute when Bruce Musakanya rolled the ball into his path to again slice through United’s porous central defence to put the ball beyond Chingambu.

Meanwhile, United offered very little quality on Sunday despite coming into the game a week after their giant-killer 2-1 away win over Zanaco in Lusaka.

United’s best opportunity in the game came in the 53rd minute when Rupert Musonda failed to beat Toaster Nsabata from point-blank-range when the Zesco goalkeeper parried his effort.