Zesco have rare opportunity to go second

Defending FAZ Super League champions Zesco United have been handed the prospect of going second on table when they host Nkwazi in a Week 16 game on Saturday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Sixth placed Zesco have made an unconvincing start to their title defence losing  four and drawing three of their opening 13 games.

Zesco have 21 points, one less than number four side Nkwazi who have played 15 games.

The champions are currently nine points behind league leaders Green Buffaloes who host 10th placed Buildcon on Saturday in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, Zesco’s 1-0 away win over Lusaka Dynamos on Wednesday plus other midweek results around them have helped hand the defending champions an opportunity to sneak into second place.

Victory over Nkwazi would see Zesco join Green Eagles on 24 points with a better goal difference than the latter who are one of three top-five teams who only see league action on Sunday.

Eagles host Prison Leopards in Choma while third placed Power Dynamos and fifth positioned Nkana, who both have 22 points, meet in the big Kitwe derby on Sunday.

Zesco coach Mumamba Numba is likely to again start the old guards who delivered the 3 points in Wednesday’s away win who include striker Jesse Were, midfielder John Chingandu and defender Fackson Kapumbu.

Veteran striker Winston Kalengo is expected back after he was rested for the mid-week trip to Lusaka.

Zesco will also fancy their chances against a Nkwazi side that has lost a staggering four successive games heading into Saturday’s trip to Ndola.

Nkwazi’s poor run comes after basking in second place since mid-October following an impressive opening eleven-game run in which they collected six wins, one defeat and four draws.

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