By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Nkwazi return to top-flight football with a new-look squad, while Roan United mark their promotion with a return to Zambia’s elite league when the two sides meet at Edwin Imboela Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off is set for 15:00 hours, with little to separate the teams on paper and the opening 90 minutes expected to provide the first real indication of what both sides can offer in the shortened campaign.
For Nkwazi head coach Masauso Tembo, Roan’s unfamiliarity at this level makes them a potentially dangerous opponent rather than a side to be underestimated.
“Playing a team which is coming from the National League is always difficult, and Roan United are a traditional team, one of the big, oldest teams in the country,” Tembo said.
“They have been down for a long time, but we just have to be serious and go into the game tomorrow with what we’ve been planning throughout the off-season and the one we’ve made for them.”
Tembo believes Nkwazi’s mixed results during pre-season have also provided valuable lessons ahead of the opener.
“Personally, sometimes in pre-season when you lose, it’s a bonus to us because now you look seriously into the areas we’ve been making mistakes,” he said.
The Nkwazi coach is encouraged by the way new arrivals have blended with the players who remain from last season and believes the squad is ready for the challenge ahead.
“The team we’ve come up with is very good and hopefully the new boys and old players, the combination is looking good. I think we are looking forward to a good short season.”
With the campaign condensed, Tembo knows home matches could prove particularly important.
“It’s always an advantage to play at home and since the league is short, when you play at home it’s very easy to pick maximum points.”
Nkwazi will also look to their supporters for an early lift, with Tembo recalling how the club’s fans remained behind the team during last season’s battle against relegation.
“We love our fans. I remember last season we were fighting relegation but the fans were really behind us, encouraged us and even the last game in Kabwe,” he said.
He urged the supporters to maintain that backing, particularly as a number of younger players make their first steps with the senior side.
“They should continue with the same mentality to encourage the young boys,” he added.
Experience will also be central to Nkwazi’s plans, with veteran Derrick Mwansa expected to start.
Tembo believes Mwansa’s influence will extend beyond his performances on the pitch.
“I’ve got a few young boys who have come in and I’m happy for the veteran, Derrick (Mwansa). He’s getting younger every day,” Tembo said.
“We just have to be careful and know how to manage him. He’s doing well and he’s starting tomorrow. He’s going to encourage the boys who have joined the team.”
Nkwazi have also unveiled a new kit and a new team bus ahead of the season, adding to the sense of a fresh start as they prepare for their return to the top flight.
Roan United, meanwhile, will be looking to make an immediate impression following their promotion, with captain Wilfred Chitembo calling on the club’s supporters to travel to Lusaka and back the team.
The fixture also carries an intriguing historical angle.
The two sides have met eight times since 2008, with Nkwazi recording one victory, Roan United winning five and two matches ending in draws. Roan have won the last three encounters between the clubs.
However, their most recent meeting came more than a decade ago, in 2013, meaning Saturday’s encounter will offer little guidance beyond the historical record.
With both clubs beginning a new chapter, the focus will instead be on who can make the stronger start when the first whistle goes at Edwin Imboela Stadium.
