Kalengo out, in comes 16 year old Luwawa…As Numba eyes first home win
By Augustine ‘Rio Flowers’ Mwanza | November 21, 2020
Zesco United are looking to record their first home victory under Mumamba Numba as they welcome Magnificent Kabwe Warriors at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium this afternoon.
Zesco lost their first home game to local rivals and continental envoys Forest Rangers.
Zega Mambo will this afternoon be looking to make up for that loss in front of their fans who make a return to the Stadium for the first time since March.
Numba is aware of how tricky playing Kabwe Warriors can be and has cautioned his team against underrating the Kabwe based outfit as they are no pushovers.
“For us, this game is very important to us because we are yet to correct maximum points at home, I think this is the game that we need to fight hard and collect Maximum points,” he said.
“We are playing Kabwe warriors a very good side I think this is a team that we don’t need to underrate cause football these days has changed so we have to go with a positive mind so that we try and force goals in the first half so that we can un Seattle them,” he added.
Numba earlier in the week edged his strikers to be more clinical in front of goal but he has now noted improvement in that area.
“There is some improvement in our finishing I think when we played a friendly match we saw our strikers scoring which is a good sign on our part because the team is creating chances but our finishing is what has been letting us down but from what we saw during the friendly match I think it was a positive sign for a team to score 6 goals I think it is something that we are happy with and we hope it can be replicated in tomorrow’s (today) game,” he said.
Numba believes a number of their players who were on international duty with their national team will bring in a different dimension.
Numba also went on to confirm that Veteran striker Winston Kalengo is ruled out of the match and that two young stars who have impressed will be part of the team.
“For our players who were with there national teams I think they will bring in a different dimension into this game I think we expect them to use the experience they have to steer the team to glory in tomorrow’s (today) game If they can play there lungs out and give us the best I think we will have a positive result tomorrow (today),” he said.
“I think the only setback is Mr. Winston Kalengo who is complaining his heel is paining, he said he can’t manage to play this game so we have given him rest so that he’s ready for Wednesday’s game. For the young stars we have included Young Enock Sakala and Luwawa into team these are the young boys that have showed that they want to play so we thought of giving them this opportunity to be in the team and we will see as the game progresses we can push them in because they have shown in training that there are young but there are eager to play.”
The Zesco United fans will watch their team this afternoon for the first time since Numba took over and the former Sensational Zanaco believes Numba the return of the 12th player, the fans will be a big boost for his side
“It’s very important on our part, especially that we will be playing at home to have the fans around us. It will motivate the team I think all they need is to just encourage the team by supporting the from kick-off until the end of the match so that the team can enjoy the game.”
ZESCO United will square off with Kabwe Warriors at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in a crucial home league fixture at 15:00 hours in a double televised on Supersport with Indeni hosting Prison Leopards in the early kick-off.
FULL SQUAD
Jacob Banda 2. Ian Otieno 3. Mwila Phiri 4. Simone Silwimba 5. Clement Mwape 6. Samuel Sikaonga 7. Kelvin Kampamba .8 Tafadzwa Rusike 9. David Molinga 10. John Makwata 11. John Chinga’andu 12. Kalonda Marcel 13. Kamusoko Thabani 14. Enock Sakala 15. Jesse Were 16. Bruce Musakanya 17. Kasoma Luwawa 18. Adrian Chama