The imbalance between the Zambia football season calendar and the CAF one is to a larger extent a traverse.
The fixture compilations and flights connection always takes its toll on Zambian teams.
Zesco is a vivid example of that: last season, despite having the best squad in size and quality in the country by some miles, they couldn’t handle the physicality, jet lag and fatigue that accumulates in the process.
They ended up surrendering the trophy to the ‘Bankers’ Zanaco and almost missed out on the CAF competitions slots.
So, with Zanaco’s and Zesco’s run in the competitions promising to be a long voyage, is it advantage Nkana (Kalampa) and Power Dynamos (Dinamo)?
Zesco’s demise last season was not coincidental, it was well documented. In a space where Zesco had to criss-cross the continent, Zanaco had the luxury of having more time in training and conditioning – a luxury Zesco couldn’t afford. The rest is history as they say; the bankers ended up being crowned champions of Zambia.
A similar fate beckons for Power and Nkana this season. They have to cease the moment like the bankers did last season and make sure Zesco and Zanaco play the meek character.
So, who’s ready to pounce between the two?
NKANA
The heart-throb of many Zambians. They do have a great squad but Nkana’s achilles heel is holding it when it matters, a syndrome which has become palpable at the club.
If there is chance for Nkana to further enrich their trophy cabinet, it’s this season.
They’ve kept their best players from last season, with Walter Bwalya being the epitomizing stamp of that.
The most certain thing at pa Chilata is uncertainty – they’ve leap-frogged Aggrey Chiyangi from head-coach to technical director– and in turn they’ve elevated his assistant Zeddy Saileti to head coach -a tale that makes less sense. Saileti and and Chiyangi presided over last season’s Nkana’s title chase collapse and altering positions with the same personnel is surprising for a team of Nkana’s caliber.
Maybe there is more than meets the eye in this case. But even then, Saileti has to instill his ethos on this team and that could prove to be hindrance number one–he’ll need more time.
Nkana’s holy grail maybe bagging their 13th title, but with the factors aforementioned, this Nkana’s dream is sure to be a wild goose chase more than anything.
POWER DYNAMOS
Power’s biggest problem over the years has being their inability to find that coach to propel them to the top again.
They’ve lagged behind the likes of Zanaco and Zesco due their managerial merry-go-round.
In Danny Kabwe they look like they’ve defied that hoodoo which has proved elusive for a few years.
He’s brought his tactical nous to the fore and the players seem to have imbibed to that. His biggest task would be to avoid that slump that finds its way in this Power side after their last title.
With Nkana having changed coaches over the break in hope of countering for the title; Power on the other hand have not changed–that and power’s shrewd signings in pre-season does put ‘aba yellow’ on a more certain wagon than their nemesis.
Do you see Power Dynamos or Nkana seizing the opportunity?
When is our team going to make a modern stadium? Ba Mopani!