All you need to know about the Kitwe Derby

The Kitwe Derby between Power Dynamos and Nkana FC will take place at the Arthur Davies Stadium on Saturday, the latest instalment in what is always one of the most eagerly-anticipated clashes in the season.

It is a fixture that is always fiercely fought, and this year there is extra significance riding on the game as we hurtle down the final straight of the campaign.

MATCH BACKGROUND

The Kitwe Derby remains a highlight on the Zambian football calendar even if neither of these sides are pushing for top honours this season.

It has been a fiercely fought match since Dynamos first won promotion to the Zambian topflight in 1979, though it is not the original top battle between teams from the Copperbelt town.

That was between Nkana and Kitwe United, a similar tussle to Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows in Soweto, before Kaizer Chiefs came along as the new kids on the block.

The home stadiums of Nkana and Dynamos lie just four kilometres from one-another, and much like in the Soweto Derby, families can be split in terms of their allegiances between the two clubs.

It is an anomaly in the fixturing that Nkana always (bar 2003) host the first game of the season and Dynamos the second.

WHY THIS GAME IS IMPORTANT

Nkana FC cannot finish higher than their current fourth place this season, but that would qualify them for the CAF Confederation Cup in the next campaign.

They are three points ahead of Zanaco in fifth, though the latter have a game in hand, while Power Dynamos are five points back with two rounds to play, so not completely out of the running either.

Dynamos have to win if they are to harbour hopes of fourth, though they would have to hope Nkana lose their last game too and Zanaco stumble to the end of the campaign.

So apart from bragging rights on the go, there is also African club qualification on the line, and Nkana can ill-afford a slip-up at this crucial stage.

RECENT MEETINGS

Power Dynamos have held sway in league meetings over the last 15 years or so, winning 12 of the 26 clashes in that time, to go with eight victories for Nkana.

But in matches at Dynamos the record is tighter, with five wins apiece and three draws.

Since the start of 2019, the teams have three wins each, though Nkana have claimed victory in the last two, including a 2-0 home success in December. They also won the away fixture 2-0 last season, but before that Dynamos won 3-0 home and away.

RECENT FORM

Dynamos went through a difficult start to the season, losing their opening four matches, and then had a superb run of form that at one stage made them title contenders.

That bubble burst around the end of February and they have found the going tough since then, with just a single win in seven games (D3 L3).

They remain strong at home though with only one defeat in their last 14 matches (W8 D5), which was a shock 1-0 loss to Chambishi earlier this month.

Nkana have lost just once in their last eight games (W3 D4) but have a habit of too many draws and have found winning on the road a challenge. They do not have far to go this time round, but are winless in six on their travels (D3 L3), the last three of which have been draws.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Dynamos
Brian Mwila

Mwila was a new recruit at Dynamos in January but has hit the ground running and been a positive influence for the side since his arrival from Buildcon.

The Zambia international striker has good experience after some time in Europe and on his day can be one of the best finishers in the league.

Nkana
Patrick Gondwe

The teenage left-winger looks to be one of the top prospects in Zambian football having excelled with the junior national teams, and more recently made his breakthrough into the senior national side.

He is an exciting talent who brings a goals threat, and could be a major catalyst for Nkana going forward.