Zesco United Football Club has announced a strong CAF Champions League traveling contingent that sees the bulk of Zega’s seasoned continental campaigners lead by captain Jacob Banda making the cut.
Coach George Lwandamina has included three new names to last year’s CAF Champions League squad, but the Ndola outfit will miss the services of Lazarus Kambole and Maybin Kalengo who have joined Kaizer Chiefs and Yanga Sports Club respectively.
Veteran striker Winston Kalengo has been left out of the 22 member squad and has since been replaced by Ugandan striker Umaru Kasumba. In between the sticks, the experienced Jacob Banda will be the likely option ahead of Burundi international Dieudonne Ntibahezwa and Under 23 goalkeeper Samson Banda.
Simon Silwimba, Shemmy Mayembe, Solomon Sakala and David Odhiambo have made the trip alongside Congolese defender Marcel Kalonda, Clement Mwape, and Mwila Phiri. Jackson Kapumbu is the notable missing name in defense.
Veteran midfielder Kondwani Mtonga and Misheck Chaila have made the cut to lead the midfielders, alongside John Ching’andu, Mwape Tozizi Mwelwa, and Japanese international Kosuke Nakamachi who will be hoping to make his CAF Champions League debut since joining from the J-League.
Others are Quadri Kola who returns to familiar grounds having been on the books of Mbabane Swallows before making a switch to Team YaZiko and the experienced Thabani Kamusoko. Kamusoko is an experienced CAF campaigner who previously featured for Tanzania side Yanga Sports Club.
Edward Tembo and Logic Ching’ndu will offer more options to the technical bench should the coach decide to use them against a little known Green Mamba side.
Anthony Akumu and Enock Sabamukama will miss out on the trip as they are out nursing injuries.
Enock and Akumu are missing out on the trip to Eswatini due to knocks they picked up during training, we wish them a quick recovery …send them some love#WeAreUnited#ZegaMambo ™#TeamYaziko ™#CAFCL pic.twitter.com/fURN9Z0HPe
— Zesco United FC (@ZescoUnitedFC) August 5, 2019
Kenyan striker Jesse Were leads the striking force options with newly acquired Saviour Nkonkola who joined from Prison Leopards and Umaru Kasumba from Kenyan Premier Soccer League side Sofapaka Football Club.
The George Lwandamina tutored side will be expecting the trio to get the much-needed goals when the team plays away in Eswatini this weekend. Zesco leaves for South Africa tomorrow and connects to Eswatini on Friday ahead of the first leg encounter.
Last year, Zesco was eliminated in the second round by TP Mazembe.
