POWER-CUT BY 10 MEN ZANACO
POWER Dynamos were widely touted to be victors in this tie. Ironically, Zanaco walked out of Authur Davies Stadium with all the spoils, despite being crippled by the sending off of George Chilufya, pior forcing what looked like an own goal.
The narrative of Alex Ngo’nga being wasteful with scoring chances and coach Danny Kabwe shouldering so much faith in him, continues. The more Ngo’nga tries to prove his doubters wrong, oddly to him, proving otherwise if he’s the right person to spearhead Zambia’s attack at the CHAN 2018, in Morocco.
Back to Authur Davies Stadium on Saturday. All pointers were towards Zanaco winning–when in the 13th minutes, Augustine Mulenga was tripped down inside the area–the offender being Billy Mutale.
As the jury, referee Michael Lialabi did not procrastinate to point on the penalty spot. Felex Nyaende stepped forward, but goalkeeper Allan Chibwe put the cut among the pigeons. A second bite on the cherry curled over the bar.
Chibwe was the hero hitherto second half–when Ernest Mbewe forced what looked like an own goal. Never mind who should be credited for the goal, what looms large is the maximum points for Zanaco and they’ll say “Thank you for Banking with us” Power Dynamos.
Actually, the BANKERS did themselves a huge favour–because, falling down would have seen Zesco United extending their lead at the pinnacle to 8 points–after beating Forest rangers, 24 hours hours later.
BLADES RELEGATED
Konkola Blades ‘Youremember’ Banda scored what seemed “a silly goal” according to coach Wellington Mujembe, in the 54th minute to send you back into the second tier.
Speaking to the press Mujembe reckons Konkola Blades can swiftly bounce back to the top tier, if at all they can maintain the current fold of players.
“It’s not difficult for us to return back to the Super league. We just need to maintain the team. Beef up with lads here and there. I think we cannot have a problem to bounce back into the Super Division,” he said.
After this loss, Blades on 27 points, after 35 matches, joins City of Lusaka and Real Nakonde in kissing Super league goodbye. Green Eagles, Nakambala Leopards, Mufilira Wanderers, Kabwe Warriors and Nchanga are the other sides flirting with the remaining relegation spot.
DISASTROUS OFFICIATING
During a media briefing, on 28th October, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga said, “Integrity remains an integral part of the game and the FAZ Executive will not allow fair play to be compromised”.
Well, you can say hitherto, the FAZ Executive have allowed fair play to be compromised. There has been nonentity of action taken against any referee, at least from the public eye.
And disastrous officiating has persisted. This time around from a top female FIFA referee Gladys Lengwe. With all her international clout in refereeing, fresh from India were she made history–to become among the fist women, to officiate the men’s game–the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in a match that looms large when you talk about the title race: Zesco United against Forest rangers.
Misleading headline…again!