Zesco hunt for elusive Derby home win

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Nov 21, 2021. 09:00

Defending FAZ Super League champions Zesco United resume their catch-up race on Sunday with a huge Ndola derby test at home against Forest Rangers at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Sixth placed Zesco have not made an impressive start to their title defence and have lost three out of their nine league games played so far with two matches in hand.

The champions have 14 points, eleven points behind unbeaten leaders Green Buffaloes while second placed Nkwazi have 22 points.

Furthermore, Zesco comes into the Ndola derby on the back of a three-match winless run in which period they have collected two points and suffered a 2-0 loss at the same venue to fourth placed Green Eagles on November 6 before heading into the week-long FIFA break.

“Of course it will be an explosive encounter playing a local derby against Forest. Everyone knows what is at stake and the players are very much looking forward to this game. It will be good for us to make amends in this local derby,” Zesco coach Mumamba Numba said.

The pressure is definitely on Zesco who have also lost all their last four derby home games against Forest.

But Zesco have won all three on the road although the 2019/2020 away leg was not played after the season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Numba welcomes back seven players from the FIFA international match break who include both his goalkeepers Ian Otieno of Kenyan and Chipolopolo stopper Gregory Sanjase.

Defenders Simon Silwimba and Solomon Sakala, midfielders Dickson Chapa and Kelvin Kampamba were all on Chipolopolo duty while Thabani Kamusko was away with the Zimbabwe national team.