Zesco United thrashed Lusaka dynamos 4-1 on Wednesday to open a four-point lead at the summit. Kenyan striker Jesse Jackson Were netted a hat-trick while Anthony Akumu chipped in with a goal to guide Zesco United to an eighth win in a row.
The Ndola based outfit are yet to drop any points so far this season and have collected 24 points, four more than Red Arrows in second place and have a game in hand (against Power dynamos).
Zesco, however, did not start the season very convincingly as they suffered a one-nil defeat in the season opener, The Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity shield at the hands of Zanaco. Head coach George Lwandamina never panicked and warned that people should not be surprised if Zesco United went on to win their fourth title in a row (9th overall).
“This team is just okay don’t judge us by this loss. Don’t even start thinking that we have to buy it. Buy who? From where? Tell me which player should I buy?” he told reporters after the loss to Zanaco.
“This game is just like the preplanned friendly games that I put in my preseason. You have to play more than five good training games but we had no time. If you look at how the league ended and how much time we had to rest to get players to zero checkpoints but we had to say let them rest because it’s important for any player to rest.”
“Preseason is always there and that is football. If you mismanage it then you are gone. Don’t be surprised if we win the fourth Championship in a row because we are able to resist up to the last game of the season because of the preseason,” he added.
Like many of his statements it was received with mixed feelings but eight League games later Lwandamina has been vindicated and his critics have disappeared or gone into hiding with no trace.
Can Zesco United go all the way and win the league without dropping points or without any defeat? Only time will tell for now Lwandamina can sit back relax and enjoy his moment, Although not for too long as Football is unpredictable but it seems the former Chipolopolo coach has a handle on things and may just take Zesco United to their ninth league title to level with Mighty Mufulira Wanderers on second-most league titles won.
The league is far from being over (Only nine games have been played) but Lwandamina and his Zesco United have put themselves in pole position and remain the favorites to win it.
