A pace setting encounter in the CAF Confederations Cup as Esportivo Do Libolo play host to 2016 Barclays Cup (Zambia) Winners in the 4th encounter in Group C that would see either Zesco United cement their claim as a group winning contender or have Esportivo turn their fortunes around after a poor run domestically and having only won one of the 3 Group games played so far.
In Zesco team news Anthony Akumu and Khondwani Mtonga will miss the encounter to serve a suspension while Jesse Jackson Were will miss it as he recovers from an injury sustained during the international break.
FORM GUIDE
Esportivo come into the fixture from two draws at home in the Girabola, which were preceded by a loss in Ndola when they played the reverse of this fixture that ended with Zesco united walking away with a 1-0 win.
Zesco United come in pretty confident in their ability to break down this side having already shown supremacy once and came from a home win against relegation battlers Real Nakonde.
BY THE NUMBERS
In the Girabola Esportivo Do Libolo have played 16 games from which they have
Scored 28 goals, 18 in 9 home games (2 per home game avg.) and 10 in 7 away games (1.43 Goals average per away game or a goal every 63 minutes)
Conceded 11 goals, 5 in 9 home games (0.56 average per home game or a goal every 160 minutes) and 6 in 7 away games (which is just under a goal a game at 0.86 or a goal every 105 minutes).
Kept 7 clean sheets, 5 at home and 2 away.
In comparison the away team Zesco United have played 10 games in the Zambian Super league have
Scored 13 goals, 9 in 5 home games (1.8 average per game or a goal every 50 minutes) and 4 in 5 away games (0.8 average per game or a goal every 113 minutes)
Conceded 2 in 5 home games and 3 in 5 away games averaging a goal conceded every 150 mintes played away from home
Kept 7 clean sheets in total with 4 coming at home and 3 coming from their 5 away encounters.
But this is certainly not a league encounter and will be one where two top African teams face off with their aim and qualification from the group stages of the CAF Confederations Cup.
From the numbers Esportivo are the more likely team to score in any scenario while Zesco United are the more solid at the back which makes for an interesting encounter between the unstoppable force and the immovable object at 16.00 hours CAT.
[team_standings 12398]
http://www.vipboxtv.me/football/487641/1/crd-libolo-vs-zesco-united-stream.html
It ended 2 – 1 in favor of Libolo.
The million $ question is ” Why is Zesco losing games that seem easier for them to win?”.
The answers to this question can be as many as those answering it in mathematical terms. My view could /might not be as yours. My view is in three phases:
1.Technical bench:- The technical team for Zesco is not doing well and so does their performance translate to the players.My basis for this argument is that they did not lose a lot of players from the team that played in the champions league and the discipline by players is questionable as compared to the time Lwandamina was their mentor. Zescos player are not tactically disciplined anymore.They choose the more difficult options as opposed to the simpler ones. Ifpenaltytyo players who had a clearcut chance to score were disciplined enough they could have tried the simpler execution options than the stylish ones. Watch the game and see what I mean.I blame this on the technicall staff.
2The players: Commitment is lacking among Zesco players.If a team is determined to go all the way then intrinsic motivation and self discipline should be some of the words used to describe them. Why Mtonga and Akum missed this game explains this argument but it is only an indicator because a lot more players may have to miss the impending games.The penalty conceded by Zesco and the countless hullabaloos in which Mbombo is always found involved in as if he is the common denominator points out to the same.
3. Management: The Zesco team is a good outfit in terms of the quality of players. However, plugging the weaker links with a few valuable additions is crucial especially after having had a chance to assess the team in the Champions league.Chama’s role is evidently misses by Zesco.
I meant to write it ended 3 – O in favor of Libolo. Sorry.