The 2024 Carling Black Label Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield came alive on Saturday in Ndola at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
In the Curtain Raiser, Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club thumped Women’s National Division One side Choma Warriors 10-0 in what was a one sided affair.
The ZamFoot Crew now looks at the five things we learned from the Charity shield.
- CHARLES KALUMBA IS IMPORTANT FOR RED ARROWS
Goalkeeper Charles Kalumba came up big for the Airmen on Saturday despite them winning big in the end.
Kalumba was called into action just 30 seconds into the match and made a brilliant save from close range showing off his fantastic reflexes.
Kalumba went on to make a few more saves throughout the course of the match and was only beaten five minutes to the end of the match.
It is no surprise that Kalumba is a wanted man with Rwandese club APR seeking his services after what was a brilliant showing at the CECAFA DAR PORT Kagame Cup.
- GREEN BUFFALOES ARE MILES AHEAD
Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club showed their class as they put 10 past Miriam Sikaduli in the Choma Warriors goal.
Sikaduli also made some fine saves and even denied Copper Queens star midfielder Evarine Susan Katongo from 12 yards.
However from the word go it was clear it was mostly one way traffic as the Nyanta Girls turned on their magic scoring five goals in each half.
Choma Warriors are not necessarily a bad side, Green Buffaloes are just a few levels above and it showed on the pitch.
They even had the luxury of allowing Bwalya Namute Chileshe, One of the most exciting forwards in Women’s football to sit out of the match and Copper Queens right back Esther Siamfuko.
- MAYLAN MULENGA AND HAT-TRICKS ARE A BETTER LOVE STORY THAN TITANIC
Maylan Mulenga’s affinity for scoring hat-tricks is next to nothing.
The Green Buffaloes star forward contributed a treble as she has done on multiple occasions.
Mulenga is nicknamed Ms Hat-trick because of her knack for scoring trebles and it seems she wants to continue that trend.
She scored two in the first half and completed her treble with a fine finish four minutes after the hour mark.
- RED ARROWS ARE THE BEST SIDE LOCALLY
Despite Kabwe Warriors starting strong, Red Arrows showed their prowess as they blew the Magnificent people’s team away.
Four second half with Ricky Banda scoring a brace and a goal each from Michee Malonga Gesimo and Angel Lubamba.
The quality difference could be seen between the two especially in the second half.
Red Arrows showed that they are Champions and with the CAF Champions League coming up gave their fans hope for a better outing.
- KUDOS CARLING BLACK LABEL
Zambia Breweries through Carling Black Label pumped in K281,000 towards the game, K200,000 in prize money and sports kit worth K125,000.
With Zambian Football needing each and every sponsor that it can get it is important to appreciate the ones who have come on board.
Carling Black Label have also added the thrill of having fans choose the starting eleven for the two teams which has enriched the Charity shield experience for the fans.
