Ndola based side Buildcon has become the first team to be relegated from the MTN Super League following a 6-0 loss at the hands of ZESCO United.
George Lwandamina‘s side handed Team Kopala a defeat to end their seven year stay in the Zambian topflight.
Collins Sikombe scored a brace while Vincent Oburu, Chipyoka Songa, Enock Sakala Jnr and Lazarus Kambole scored a goal each.
Buildcon won promotion in 2016 as AM Welding, a team that was bought by the Buildcon Investment Group owned by Moses Mubanga, a Ndola businessman.
Buildcon bought the team just a game into the 2016 season but since the fixtures were already out, FAZ advised them to keep the name and only change the following season, 2017.
After winning promotion, the team was moved to Ndola and finished ninth in the league making a lot of noise with their colourful jersey and a starting eleven with majority of foreign players captained by former Chipolopolo player Jonas Sakuwaha.
In 2018 they finished one place higher and the 2019 transitional league saw them finish second in Stream B which meant CAF Confederation football was secured.
Team Kopala’s continental journey was however short lived as they were eliminated by Eswatini outfit Young Buffaloes in the first round thanks to a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.
The 2019/2020 season was cut short due to the Coronavirus epidemic and Buildcon finished 13th on the log.
The next two seasons they finished 11th and 10th respectively but 2022/2023 has been a different season for the Ndola based outfit that came with a bang.
Financial difficulties have been reported to be the reason the club has gone down in performances which is evident by the quality they have in the squad in comparison to previous seasons.
With this relegation the two teams once dubbed the big spenders are now both in the lower tier, Buildcon and former ABSA Cup winners, Lusaka Dynamos.
It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back from the National Division One League which is also another tough adventure.
MTN SUPER LEAGUE WEEK 28 RESULTS | Saturday, 1st April, 2023
Buildcon 0-6 ZESCO United
(Collins Sikombe 32’, 88’, Enock Sakala 54’, Lazarous Kambole 56’, Vincent Oburu 82’, Songa Chipyoka 89’)
Chambishi 1-2 Green Eagles
(Eddie Sinyangwe (P) 90’ | Amity Shamende 45’, Gift Mwansa 72’)
Forest Rangers 1-1 Red Arrows
(Lazarous Chishimba 54’ | Saddam Yusuf Phiri (P) 8’)
Kabwe Warriors 1-0 Kansanshi Dynamos
(Shadreck Banda (OG) 73’)
Nkana 2-1 Nkwazi
(Emmanuel Mutale 76’, Lameck Kafwaya 90’ | Carlos Kaoma 36’)
Nchanga Rangers 1-1 Lumwana Radiants
(Elliot Kampukesa | Joe Simbuwa 36’)
Prison Leopards 0-0 FC MUZA