Zesco United on Sunday evening went down 5 – 6 on penalties to AS Kaloum of Guinea to bow out of the CAF Champions League after the two remained tied 2 – 2 aggregate after two legs of football.
Prolific midfielder Justine Zulu put the Ndola side ahead in the 43rd minute after Zesco had dominated play and the number of chances in the first half.
However it was a 50 – 50 affair after the restart but Zesco held their own until they conceded a penalty with about a quarter of an hour to play.
Just like in Ndola, the two teams were tied on 1 – 1 at the end of the game and the game went straight to penalties with John Chingandu, Misheck Chaila, Ayo Oluwafemi and Justin Zulu converting the first four spot kicks before striker Jackson Mwanza failed to convert the sixth penalty.
Zambia’s representative in the CAF Confederations Cup were also booted out of the competition by CF Mounana of Gabon on a 4 – 3 aggregate scoreline.
AS Kaloum v Zesco XI: Jacob Banda,Daut Musekwa, Mathias Emmanuel, Ayo Oluwafemi, Kondwani Mtonga, Jonas Sakuwaha (John Chingandu), Justin Zulu, Winston Kalengo (Lazarous Kambole), Misheck Chaila,Jackson Mwanza, Clatous Chama (Humphrey Maseneko)
Zesco have paid the price for being.conservative in scoring goals. The strikers for zesco are lazy. It all boils down to poor tactics by the technical bench.
At times we expect too much from the coaches. Zambian players must learn not to fully depend on the coach. Tactics is what the coach brings to the team however the team must have other positives that make them different from ordinary players. Intelligence is one factor. The other is instinct.I didn’t watch this game however my interest in it would be to analyse how the Zesco players fared on these two factors especially after taking a lead as early as 43rd minute. Instinct and intelligence propels players to do the extra ordinary things that could maintain the advantage a team has over the other. Zesco scored first.intelligence and instinct must have propelled these chaps to work harder for a second goal. One goal lead was never going to be good in any way considering that it put them under immense pressure over and above the fact that conceding a goal like they did would cancel their beautiful start. Coaches do not limit players from scoring an avalanche. Neither do they inhibit players from being creative to fortify the coaches tactics.
You are right as coaching only looks at performance enhancement which is the best the coach can do, while Executives need to look at Mentoring (career progression) and Counseling (dealing with players’ personal issues)
At times we expect too much from the coaches. Zambian players must learn not to fully depend on the coach. Tactics is what the coach brings to the team however the team must have other positives that make them different from ordinary players. Intelligence is one factor. The other is instinct.I didn’t watch this game however my interest in it would be to analyse how the Zesco players fared on these two factors especially after taking a lead as early as the 43rd minute. Instinct and intelligence propels players to do the extra ordinary things that could maintain the advantage a team has over the other. Zesco scored first.intelligence and instinct must have propelled these chaps to work harder for a second goal. One goal lead was never going to be good in any way considering that it put them under immense pressure over and above the fact that conceding a goal like they did would cancel their beautiful start. Coaches do not limit players from scoring an avalanche. Neither do they inhibit players from being creative to fortify the coach’s tactics.
What an observation. Thank u Sly for opening our eyes to tactics/techniques/strategies in our beautiful game. Have learnt another approach for my players. Thanks again.
I saw this coming anyway. I am not surprised. Zambian clubs do not have what it takes to go far in African club championships. More needs to be done.
Justine Zulu scored all the 4 goals Zesco scored. I still stick to what I’ve been saying that Sate Sate is at another level pantu ena na continental club he continued inking the scoreboard.-kekekeke. Credit to Ngonga who i feel with proper handling (Mentoring and Couseling) may be the most complete striker we have around, with Patson Daka soon to take up that mantle!
You don’t qualify if you fail to beat your opponents at home at that level. Zesco has lost it for failing to beat a Swazi side and AS Kaloum. If it wasn’t a 1-1 away draw to Swaziland, Zesco would have been history by now.