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Zesco, Rangers back in Zambia Super League action

football19 January 2021 11:23| © Mzansi Football
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© Zesco / Twitter

The catch-up matches in the Zambia Super League continue on Wednesday with two fixtures that have significance at both ends of the table.

Zesco United can go top of the table with a victory at home to Nkwazi and are currently among the forms sides in the top-flight over the last six matches.

Their 12 point haul in that time is bettered only by Zanaco (13), but they are the only team unbeaten (W3 D3), suggesting they should be too strong for their visitors, who hover just above the relegation zone.

But matches between the pair have been pretty even in the last few years – the previous 19 meetings have resulted in six wins each and seven draws. In games at Zesco, they lead the head-to-head 5-3 with a single draw.

Zesco have won the last three home games though, scoring seven goals without conceding.

They are buoyant after coming off a 2-1 victory at defending champions Nkana FC last time out, which coach Numba Mumamba says was a big moment in their season.

“This victory is very important and a great motivation to the boys as we prepare to face Nkwazi on Wednesday. It was always crucial that we get maximum points from our first game after a long break in order to keep up pace with the rest of the pack,” Mumamba was quoted by his club’s website.

“This is a big stepping stone for the boys as we prepare for Nkwazi. It is crucial to maintain the same attitude. We shall continue motivating them so that we maintain this winning momentum.”

In the other match on Wednesday, surprise strugglers NAPSA Stars host Forest Rangers, who will rise as high as second with a win and a defeat for Zesco.

But Rangers have stuttered in recent weeks, losing two of their last three games, both away, though in-between they did manage a 4-0 home win over bottom side Kitwe United.

Stars have won just two of their 10 games so far this season, but are unbeaten at home in four games this season (W2 D2).

This is another fixture with an even spread of success, the previous 16 encounters have seen six wins each and four draws, with both teams managing 14 goals. At Stars the head-to-head is 3-3 with two draws.

Rangers have also had to content with a bizarre incident ahead of the game against Prison Leopards on Saturday that saw their goalkeeper coach Charles Chileshe suspended for unsporting conduct by the Football Association of Zambia this week.

FAZ stated that, “Chileshe’s action of sprinkling an unknown substance in goal and urinating or simulation of urinating against one of the goalposts acted in a manner that is not consistent with the values and integrity of football as espoused by Fifa, CAF and FAZ”.

Whatever Chileshe was trying to achieve does not appear to have worked as Rangers lost 2-0.

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