Zesco, Napsa clash

By NDINAWE  SIMPELWE –
ZESCO United and Napsa Stars will today relive the 2012 Barclays Cup semi-final as they clash at Nkoloma Stadium at the same stage of the competition that the latter went on to win.
With Napsa looking to repeat that feat, Zesco will obviously take it as payback time while the other semi-final pits Zanaco and Lusaka Dynamos who are both looking for their first Barclays Cup title.
Both matches will be played at Nkoloma Stadium with the Zescotie kicking-off earlier first at 13:00 hrs while the second match startsat 15:00hrs.
NAPSA vs Zesco
NAPSA Stars stand-in coach LinosMakwaza says his side’s biggest bet for silverware this year is by lifting the BarclaysCup as the league has become tricky campaign.
Makwazaadmitted the game against Zesco will be a big bash but was quick to say his players were up for the challenge especially after dispatching another big side in the quarter-finals- Green Buffaloes.
“We are ready for Zesco, we know they are a big team. We areanticipating a tough game but the boys are ready. Theleague is a bit tricky for us now so we want to lay our hands on this trophy,”Makwaza said.
Napsa are ninth on the league table with 44 points, 12 of leaders Buffaloes.
Today’s meeting between the two sides will be a repeat of the 2012semi-final which saw underdogs Napsa emerge winners on their way beating Power Dynamos in the final and lift the only trophy they have to date.
The Napsa Stars of then was not as exciting as this one with Zesco further reminded that they have lost to their opponents in the league earlier thisseason.
But Zesco coach Zlatko Krmpotic is a man with a big mission ofsilencing his critics after a not-so-convincing season so farthough the Serbian has remainedconfident he has done a goodjob despite a quarter-final exit in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Krmpotic says, however, that Zesco is now in a much better position that last year.
He argues that his team is still fighting for two silverware in the season’s run-in withhas realistic chance of winning both.
Zesco has Jesse Were to lead their attack and the Kenyan has provenlethal on his day while John Ching’andu and MisheckChaila will marshal the midfield in what promises to a big battle against Napsa’sYouremember Banda and Austin Banda.
ChitiyaMususu will lead Napsa’s attack against the Zesco defence of David Owino Odhiambo and Ben Banh.
Zanaco vs Lusaka Dynamos
THESE two teams are separated by just one point in the league with Zanacositting second with 54 points and Lusaka Dynamos in third whichmakes this encounter evenly poised.
Despite Zanaco’s dominance in the recent years, they are still yet tolay their hands on the Barclays Cup and the closest they have come waslast year when they lost 1-0 to Zesco in the final.
Coach NumbaMumambais carving out a name for himself having won the leagueand reaching the final of the Barclays Cup last year and will beeager to go one step further in this competition.
However, Dynamos has emerged to be a bigshot and their challenge for the leaguetitle and this cup is testimony of their ambitions and ability.
Coach Patrick Phiri knows one or two things about winning titles andit will be no surprise if he guides the team all the way.
Mumamba might leave out enterprising wingerAugustine Mulenga who is mourning but will still hasenough ammunition in the likes of Ernest Mbewe, Charles Zulu andJulius Situmbeko to pick from.
Zanaco will also be wary of league leading scorer Chris Mugalu who hastaken the league by storm with his last minute winning goals with FwayoTembo and Cletus Chama also prowling.
It will be an afternoon of the bug guns.