Recap: Zambia Super League week eight
The FAZ/MTN Super League week eight was a big test for strikers, only six goals scored from five matches, four home wins, and a draw.
Numba Mumamba can now breathe a sigh of relief after seeing his Zesco United record back to back wins beating Prison Leopards one-nil at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium through a Donashano Malama strike in the 25th minute to put his side in pole position of the league marking a bad start to life for Prison Leopards following the departure of their former technical director George Lwandamina who left for Azam FC in Tanzania after barely two weeks on the job.
Despite unimpressive performance from the home team who used the experience to their advantage as they were outclassed in the midfield, they lead the pack with 14 points from 8 matches while Prison Leopards who were guilty of missing many goal-scoring opportunities drop from 9th to 10th with 8 points.
At the same venue, the second match of the doubleheader saw Buildcon ‘rob’ Zanaco through Wilmore Haatembo. Despite boasting the best scoring record in the Super League, Chris Kaunda’s side failed to run past Buildcon who dominated proceedings for most of the match.
It was the second time that Buildcon managed to get three points from Zanaco since 2017 when they won promotion to the super league a thing which prompted the Zanaco coach Chris Kaunda to question his side’s mentality and describe the loss as unacceptable.
Zanaco has been displaced from the first position which has gone to Zesco united as they now occupy 3rd position while buildcon have moved into top 4 and now lie in 2nd position with 12 points.
At Edwin Emboela stadium in Lusaka, Nkwazi was handed a tough time by Dabid Chilufya drilled indeni side Indeni Fc closed all loopholes by restricting Nkwazi from getting into their eighteen-yard area. When it was almost being concluded to be a barren draw, Stephen Mutema flew high past Indeni producing a moment of magic with a solo goal to land his team in the top 4 on 11 points.
The loss has kept Indeni stuck on their previously held 8th position.
In Kafue at Khosa stadium visiting Green Buffaloes were handed a first loss which came as a shock to everyone arising from the fact that before the match Young Green Eagles had never won any game in the Super League and had scored two goals from seven games coupled by having the most porous defense.
Green Buffaloes Unbeaten run was brought to an end by former Green Eagles, Zanaco, and Lumwana Radiants player Adamson Mulao who headed home from a pinpoint angle. The win has pushed Young Green Eagles one place up from 16th to 15th position with 7 points while a loss for Green Buffaloes has pulled them three places back to 7th position with 9 points.
On Sunday at sunset stadium, visiting Kitwe united took a shock lead in the 10th minute through Kenyan Taddy Osok against the run of play. When they thought they would survive the scare, newly acquired Collins Sikombe who was guilty of missing many golden chances struck late in the 88th minute to give his side a 7th draw of the season with only one win to their name which came against Zanaco.
A bad result for Lusaka Dynamos looking at the depth they possess and where Kitwe United lie on the table. Lusaka Dynamos are stagnant in 5th position with 10 points while Kitwe united comfortably sit at the tail of the table with 2 points.
Week eight was marked with poor conversion rate at goal with each of the 10 teams who were in action averaging 0.6 goal aspect ratio, strikers need to pull their socks.
Should this trend continue then we are assured of boring matches going forward as this may translate into many single goal wins or barren draws or maybe the defenders have upped their game and it’s just tougher for strikers? the jury is still out on what is the true picture.