NO ROOM FOR ERROR: YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE

FRANKLYN MALAMBO writes @SunZambianAS if the excitement evoked by the Monday morning release of the long awaited fixtures was not enough, knowledge of the impending start to the league season this Saturday gave the excitement another massive leap. It’s upon us, it’s the 2020/21 League season.Just like any other season, this promises to be filled with excitement, thrills and spills meaning with whatever lens one watches and follows, captivation is a certainty.Fuelled by unpredictability, it is no respecter of reputations and while luck may be ridden on instances, misfortune may also sting on some. A good early start may not guarantee ultimate victory and a poor one may not mean dooms day looms.The intrigue in this league can only be likened to that on the board game of snakes and ladders due to the presence of spoilers, strugglers, pretenders and contenders.Spoilers are teams that aren’t looking for upper reaches of the tree but will try and use every opportunity to maximize on points returns. These will bank on home form a lot and pinch a few away. Lumwana Radiants and Nkwazi have usually been in this category and they will be joined by Indeni. A new look Buildcon team could spoil a few parties too. These like snakes, will bite and peg teams back.On the other side, Clubs that usually come up from the first division find themselves struggling to cope with the demands of top tier football from the administrative end through to the quality on the pitch. Unless they have this sorted, it may be a case of Déjà vu all over.Young Green Eagles, Kitwe United and Prison Leopards may struggle. However, they can all spring surprises if they roll their dice well otherwise they may be the ladders for most teams.Red Arrows football club had a quick start last season but were haunted by their own inconsistencies when it mattered most. Considering the amount of changes made to playing personnel, they may end up being mere pretenders especially if their inconsistency follows.With a lot of respect for them as defending champions, Nkana may not have the quality to take them over the line and so may only be common pretenders too just like Kabwe Warriors.With CAF burdens, new broken ground and status to deal with, Napsa Stars, Forest Rangers and Green Eagles who have lost some key players will have good seasons but just that. These will go box by box and will have to work hard and honestly to stay in the upper reaches of the table. Of this lot, Napsa may have a better season owing to doing their business early enough and with Players that seemed to address the issues they had last season.Where it matters most, Power Dynamos are back in the hunt for titles and their bullishness is understandable. On the evidence of the end of season form and the additions made, they are in a good place to push all the way. It’s refreshing to see another side that will battle a bruised Zesco United looking to bounce back after a disappointing campaign last time out and a ZANACO team going for it. Lusaka Dynamos will also be a part of this to form the top four contenders.If any of these four who will have no continental engagements and have both quality and quantity in their squads fail to win it, they will have none but themselves to blame for not having avoided the bites and using the ladders to reach the ultimate.It’s time to adjust diaries even though match venues will not have spectators for now. Just for now I hope.That aside, the die is cast, the pieces are on the board and all will look to avoid the snakes but climb on to the ladders in their quest to win.You snooze, you lose. Its squeaky bum time.Let the games begin! The Sun