Club-by-club guide to the MTN Super League

The new MTN Super League season kicks off this weekend, the start of nine months of intense action to crown a champion.

Red Arrows are the defending champions, but Zesco United and Nkana FC in particular will be looking to knock them from their perch.

SuperSport.com provides a brief preview of the 18 top-flight sides.

BUILDCON FC

Last season: 10th
2022-23 Prediction: Battle at the bottom

Buildcon are a team in some turmoil, having been sanctioned by the Football Association of Zambia for “repeatedly flouting rules and failure to comply with Fifa verdicts regarding their player transfer policies”.

What is clear is that they will struggle to put together a squad to compete this season, that’s if they are allowed to play in the MTN Super League at all. More should be known in the coming days.

CHAMBISHI

Last season: 14th
2022-23 Prediction: Midtable finish

Chambishi survived the drop last season by finishing one place above the relegation places, though in truth they had a comfortable seven-point gap from the relegation zone.

They have refreshed their squad with a number of new signings, including the DR Congo duo of striker Billy and winger Ruddy Kupa Makwekwe.

They have also brought in right-back Melani Gondwe, central defender Moses Soko and midfielder Stanley Chisenga, and should be set for the comfort of midtable.

FOREST RANGERS

Last season: 11th
2022-23 Prediction: Competing for Caf places

Last season was a disappointing one for Forest Rangers as they finished in the bottom half of the table, but the Ian Bakala-coached side are expecting much better things this time round.

They have signed midfielder Lazarous Chishimba and forward Moyela Wisdom Libamba both from Indeni, as well as two players from Young Power Dynamos, right-winger Thompson Sindowe and Defender Innocent Ngosa.

Other new arrivals, all on loan, are midfielders Gift Lukwesa, Kingsley Mukuka and Gozon Mutale.

GREEN BUFFALOES

Last season: 12th
2022-23 Prediction: Competing for Caf places

Buffaloes were the early season pace-setters in the MTN Super League last season but fell away horribly in the second half of the season and tumbled all the way down to 12th place.

The Army team will know they disappointed their fans and will be looking for a vast improvement, but have kept their cards close to their chest around new arrivals.

You would expect them to be better this campaign though and could yet fight for African club competition places.

GREEN EAGLES

Last season: 3rd
2022-23 Prediction: Competing for Caf places

Green Eagles are preparing to compete in the Caf Confederation Cup after their top three finish last season and coach Aggrey Chiyangi has made extensive moves in the transfer market to make them competitive.

They have 10 new arrivals, namely goalkeeper Given Kambila (Young Green Eagles), defenders Musonda Mupeta (Young Nkana), Teddy Simfukwe (Young Green Eagles) and Dominic Musonda (Trident FC), and midfielders James Mulenga (Mungwi Hotspurs), Kingsley Fichite (Young Green Eagles) and Chipo Mugala (Lumwana Radiants).

They have also significantly bolstered the forward line with Burundian Jules Ulimwengu (Gor Mahia), Youremember Banda (Green Buffaloes) and Gift Mwansa (Ronald Ross FC).

Just how their exploits on the continent will affect domestic form remains to be seen.

KABWE WARRIORS

Last season: 8th
2022-23 Prediction: Midtable

Kabwe Warriors were in the race for Caf places right up to the last weeks of the season in 2021-22, but too many draws towards the end of the campaign meant they ultimately finished a disappointing eight.

Since then they have lost key man Prince Mumba, who has gone to Croatian side NK Istra 1961 on a season-long loan, and they well may find it hard to replace him in the side.

The team has played a number of pre-season friendlies of late and done Ok, the latest a 2-2 draw with Green Buffaloes this week.

KANSANSHI DYNAMOS

Last season: 7th
2022-23 Prediction: Midtable

Dynamos looked in real relegation trouble at the midway point of last season by rallied superbly to finish a very credible seventh. They may struggle to maintain that this campaign, but likely possess too much talent to be in a relegation scrap.

That is especially so given the lessons they will have learnt from last season, where coach Boyd Mulwanda narrowly missed on the top prize for tacticians at the MTN Super League awards at the end of last season.

LUMWANA RADIANTS

Last season: Promoted
2022-23 Prediction: Battling for survival

Lumwana Radiants are back in the big time after a single season in the second-tier but staying up will be another big challenge for the team.

The team is only 12 years old, but are determined to make their mark on the elite league this season.

They do have some top talent, like last season’s top scorer Josphat Kasusu, the club's Player of the Season Richard Zulu and captain Musonda Siame.

They have also signed two players on loan from Green Eagles, Micheal Mwenya and Andrew Kwiliko, who come with lots of experience.

MAESTRO UNITED ZAMBIA

Last season: Promoted
2022-23 Prediction: Battling for survival

The newly-promoted side have bold ambitions for this season but history suggests teams that come up battle to stay in the MTN Super League, with the second half of the season the hardest.

The team is coached by Lamack Banda and has made a number of new signings to try and bolster their topflight experience.

They have signed the former Lusaka Dynamos duo of goalkeeper Monga Ndala and defender Eric Kabulo Ngoyi from AS Simba (DR Congo), goalkeeper Monga Ndala from AS Vita (DR Congo), striker Ndongola-Ignace Reagan from FC Blessing (DR Congo) and goalkeeper William Mtonga, also from Lusaka Dynamos.

They also have returning stars, midfielder Emmanuel Habasimbi from Prison Leopards and strikers Emmanuel Manda and Kenani Phiri from Zanaco and Napsa Stars respectively.

NAPSA STARS

Last season: Promoted
2022-23 Prediction: Midtable

Stars are back in the MTN Super League and have a new CEO in Ponga Liwewe, a vastly experienced administrator who will bring plenty of know-how to the role.

Their relegation at the end of the 2020/21 season was a real surprise, but they have returned at the first time of asking and will look forward to much better days ahead.

Coached by former Orlando Pirates forward Perry Mutapa, the club have made four new signings to bolster their squad.

Midfielder Leonard Mulenga and defender Fredrick Mwimanzi arrive from Green Buffaloes on a one-year loan deal, while goalkeeper Jackson Kakunta has joined the club on a one-year loan deal from defending Champions Red Arrows FC.

This could be a season of consolidation for the team as they build for the coming years.

NCHANGA RANGERS

Last season: Promoted
2022-23 Prediction: Battling for survival

The newly-promoted Rangers are back in the big time but it could be a rough old year for them, especially if they get off to a poor start.

They have managed to retain some of their top stars, including junior national team midfielder Elliot Kampukesa, while they have also signed Green Eagles defender Boston Muchinda on loan, and retained striker Ronald Chibwe from the same club on another 12-month loan contract.

Midfielder Logic Ching’andu has also arrived from Zesco United, while the duo of defenders Justin Daka and Andrew Phiri have been signed from Kafue Celtic.

NKANA FC

Last season: 4th
2022-23 Prediction: Going for the title

Nkana finished fourth in the last campaign to secure a place in the Caf Confederation Cup, which will be a mighty distraction from their domestic commitments.

Coach Beston Chambeshi has largely kept the core of last season’s team, but there have been some new additions and players promoted from the juniors.

Congolese midfielder Mousaa Lamisa arrived from Lusaka Dynamos, while Nkana have raided the same club for winger Harry Kayula.

They have also promoted young striker Royd Katuta and defender Rabson Banda, who they hope will bring some youthful energy to the team.

They should be going for the title, but whether they can sustain a challenge remains to be seen.

NKWAZI

Last season: 13th
2022-23 Prediction: Midtable

The police team had a strange season in 2021-22 when they showed they could be competitive on their day, but also failed to spark when you expected them to.

They finished seven points above the relegation zone, but will want to avoid flirting with the bottom this time round. They have been quiet on transfers.

POWER DYNAMOS

Last season: 5th
2022-23 Prediction: Competing for Caf places

A late-season rally saw Power Dynamos shoot up the table but it came too late to win a place in the CAF competition this campaign.

But that will certainly be their aim in the current season and to that end, they have made some interesting signings.

The club have brought on board Forest Rangers midfielder Laurent Muma and striker Jacob Kaunda from Chambishi. Those two followed the duo of Owen Tembo and Willard Mwanza from Konkola Blades FC.

The team is coached by Mwenya Chipepo and have also looked at a number of youngsters in pre-season.

PRISON LEOPARDS

Last season: 9th
2022-23 Prediction: Midtable

It took Leopards some time to find their feet in the elite league last season but they finished a credible ninth and will now hope to build on that.

They have sought to freshen up the squad by promoting a number of players, including defender Emmanuel Hankanga, defensive midfielder Joy Yolamu and striker Reuben Chanda.

They may be aiming higher this campaign, but another midtable finish may be seen as progress of sorts in terms of bringing stability.

RED ARROWS

Last season: 1st
2022-23 Prediction: Going for the title

The champions from last season will be looking to make it back-to-back league successes and made a good start by beating ANPSA Stars in the Charity Shield this past weekend.

They also won a pre-season four-team tournament by beating Zesco United 3-0 in the final, so they appear to have maintained their form into 2022-23.

The Air Force side will be among the favourites again and have retained the services of evergreen striker James Chamanga, who will turn 43 during the campaign. His longevity, and ability to keep scoring goals, is remarkable.

Just how their campaign in the Caf Champions League will diminish their chances remains the big unknown factor.

ZANACO

Last season: 6th
2022-23 Prediction: Competing for Caf places

Zanaco last won the MTN Super League title in 2016 and may feel they are overdue a shot at the title, but the pressure may be mounting on coach Kelvin Kaindu after a poor pre-season.

They lost all three games, without scoring a goal, in a recent four-team tournament, which will do nothing to instil confidence in the fans after the club also lost the services of striker Moses Phiri, who has left for Tanzanian side Simba SC.

The Bankers will hope that it is just a bump in the road and that at the very least they will be shooting for Caf competition places this season.

ZESCO UNITED

Last season: 2nd
2022-23 Prediction: Going for the title

Zesco United finished second last season, but it was a full seven points behind eventual winners Red Arrows.

They will be among the favourites for the title this campaign but will also be desperate for a good showing in the Caf Champions League.

Coach Mumamba Numba feels they are building for the new season well, and with a number of exciting acquisitions, such as former Orlando Pirates winger Austin Muwowo, there is reason for that optimism.

Others that have arrived are former Baroka FC goalkeeper Cyril Chibwe, Alfred Leku, Songa Chipyoka, Kezironi Kizito, Kelvin Kapumbu, Rodrick Kembo and Jack Ngulube.

It is certainly a lineup to make their rivals envious and possibly also make Zesco the favourites for the title.