ZESCO GO TOP

ZESCO United rallied to beat Power Dynamos 2-1 at home in Ndola on Wednesday to go top of the FAZ Super Division table. Victory in this rescheduled Week 14 fixture at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium has helped Zesco to open a two point lead at the top with 31 points from 17 matches played. Zambia correctional Services Commissioner General Dr. Chisela Chileshe has applauded the Prison Leopards for qualifying for the Absa Cup and urged the team to go for a flat out victory. The Correctional Services sponsored outfit join Zesco, Zanaco, Forest Rangers, Lusaka Dynamos and Kabwe Warriors in the Absa Cup title fight. In a thrilling match played on Wednesday, Power made a false start when taking a lead in the 15th minute through attack minded defender Luka Chamanga. The two teams went into the half time break with a 1-1 scoreline thanks to Thabani Kamusoko’s equaliser for Zesco scored on 27 minutes. Youngster Enock Sakala Jnr sealed the win with a 71st minute strike just seven minutes after replacing Jesse Were as Zesco went on to pick their second straight win. “I think if we can beat Power Dynamos it will even motivate us to challenge for the title,” Zesco coach Numba Mumamba said prior to the match. “We expect a very tough game against Power but we just have to continue talking to our players so that as we play them, we account for ourselves well so that at the end of it all, we collect the 3 points that we need.” Zesco went into the match following a convincing come-from-behind 3-1 home win over Buildcon in their Ndola derby on February 13. Meanwhile, Leopards have announced the signing of Ghanaian striker Kamal Jafaru. The 26-year old attacker has penned down a short term contract that will keep him at the club until the end of this season. Prior to joining the Correct Boys, Jafaru was once in the books of Buildcon FC and Mighty Mufulira Wanderers. “It’s great to be part of this family am very grateful and I promise to work hard for this club to achieve what is planned for this season, even though I signed a short term contract, I want to make sure the team achieves its goals for the rest of the season and I also want to leave good memories in this great club. Thanks to the management, coaching staff, media, my team mates and all the supporters of this great club for the warmly welcome” said Jafaru. Dr. Chileshe, who is also patron of the Prison Leopards FC, has congratulated the team for putting up a spirited fight during the first round of the league. “As Zambia Correctional Service command we are very much impressed with your performance so far, I was doing some football mathematical calculations to see whether you have qualified for Absa cup or not but after going through the league table attentively, I can safely say that you will be among the eight teams to participate in this year’s cup competition. The general objective that we want you to achieve this season is simply to stay in the super league other than that, treat whatever that comes your way as a bonus”, he said. The last time Prison Leopards participated in a cup competition was in 2002 when they managed to finish the first round on 2nd position of the then FAZ Division One North. They went on to win their first Super League promotion in that same year. The Mwenya Chipepo drilled side has received many kudos from genuine soccer lovers from the football fraternity for the impressive performance exhibited so far. Having bounced back in the Super League recently, they were considered by many as “underdogs” – the tag which made the Correct Boys to work even harder.