Thursday, March 28, 2024

2017 Charity Shield Preview: Zesco United vs Power Dynamos

Just as the season is getting closer, there is a small matter of a community shield. Power and Zesco will revive its rivalry when the two take to the floor to fight for a place in the charity shield final.

For some years now Zesco have enjoyed monopoly in the electric derby, often switching them off at will. This one does promise to be another chance for ‘aba yellow’ Power Dynamos to break the hoodoo that has been a recurring theme between this sides for a long time now.

SQUAD BREAKDOWN

POWER DYNAMOS

After some months of stabilizing the team, this is the year in which Danny Kabwe will wield his power as an elite manager.

Power have been active in the transfer window, managing to rope in Godfrey Ngwenya, lyson Sikaonga and left-back Allan Kamwanga Jr. Though they’ve lost loanee from celtic(Patson Daka), they’ve managed to keep the core of the team which finished fourth last season.

Fwayo Tembo, who was rumored to be joining their arch-rivals is seemingly staying at Arthur Davies and that has  come as good news for the 6 times Zambian champions.

SQUAD HEALTH: The Kitwe giants do have a clean bill of health and it would be interesting to see how Danny Kabwe will tinker with the squad.

Will he go with the tried and tested in Luka Lungu, Jimmy Njobvu or will he give new boy and novice to many Zambians Lyson Sikaonga the nod. The onus is definitely on the gaffer to come up with a good eleven to push Zesco for their money.

ZESCO UNITED

The games have been moved to thursday to afford Zesco ample time to prepare for the confederation cup in which they are fighting for a stake in the group stage.

Zesco like Power Dynamos have also been active in the transfer window, managing to entice Fackson Kapumbu and and Davy Daka from their possible finalist opponent, Zanaco.

Their biggest acquisition of the summer has been Zlatko Krmpotic, the Serbian taking up the helm left by Coach George Lwandamina.

A novice to many Zambians but the Serbian is no neophyte to African football, part of the Tp Mazembe technical bench under Calteron that   conquered Africa and won the champions league. He’s also worked as Kazakhstan manager as well as a mentor to junior teams in his native country.

SQUAD NEWS: bar some late fitness test on Misheck Chaila, Zesco like Power Dynamos have a clean bill of health.

With Zlatko having a fully fit squad, it’ll be interesting to see how he utilizes his soldiers. Will he go for the jugular or use his peripheral players? It’s definitely a tale many will be waiting to unfold on Thursday afternoon.

PREDICTION

There is a common adage that ‘history favors the strong’ a theme that has repeated itself over this two teams.

For power they’d counter and say ‘history is there to be broken’ a feat which has been achieved and proved many times in football and sport in general.

Zlatko will be having a feel of Zambian football for the first time, that won’t be the only thing on his mind–a date against Enugu Rangers will also be in his sight.

My forebodings/sixth sense are telling me that Zesco’s propensity to do well in confederation cup and Zlatko’s ‘cheechako’ tag will be enough to condemn Zesco United to their first defeat to Power Dynamos in many years.

BY: DAVIES LUKONDE JR

 

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