Talking Point: The MTN League’s First 15 Weeks

With the MTN/FAZ Premier League taking a three week hiatus bolayathu.com takes a look at some of the stand out moments of the 15 week lap that decorated or dented the football landscape. Be it the sacking of coaches at the drop of the ball, the Chris Chibuye slap at the hands of a fan, Keagan Mumba’s bring your children to score rant, and unruly Nkana fans exporting hooliganism to Arthur Davies Stadium bolaythu.com tells it all.

10. Defending champions Power Dynamos provided the first act of drama when they fired head coach Fordson Kabole becoming the first high profile coach to face the axe. This came shortly after the Kitwe giants suffered a 6-0 loss to TP Mazembe in the CAF African Champions League. Was he to blame?

9. Just four weeks into the league Roan United’s Chris Chibuye needed police escort to leave Kafubu Stadium as irate fans descended on him after a 3-0 loss to Nkana. He was never to last long as he faced the boot a few weeks later.

8. With so much hype around Zesco’s 12 week unbeaten run that had kept their not so quiet coach talking of a possible season long unbeaten streak it came to an abrupt end when Power Dynamos beat them 2-1 at Arthur Davies Stadium in a Week 13 fixture.

7. With Zanaco gaining the notoriety of slender margin victories, coach Keagan Mumba scoffed at such criticism from supporters, “If they (fans) have children who can come and score six [goals] let them come we can be very happy.”

6. While firing of coaches may have become something of a routine occurrence in the league the sacking of Bruce Mwape who became the sixth casualty in the league summed up the chaotic manner the men in suits hire trainers.

At the sacking of Mwape, Richard Kazala’s Nchanga Rangers were in fifth position. Many will be eager to see how far the half-hearted changes made by Kazala on the technical bench will aid the team.

5. Vilified as old guards, KK 11, UNIP Napsa Stars have punched above their weight most of the first half of the season and sit on an impressive fifth position. With an assemblage of mostly players from yester-years few could have tipped the ‘madalas’ to be in the top eight but seasoned coaches Patrick Phiri and Peter Kaumba have seen to the competitiveness of the squad that has the likes of ‘bulldozer’ Harry Milanzi, Linos Chalwe, Ian Bakala in their fold.

4. For the period Zesco led the log there were few times their coach Wedson Nyirenda was not happy with the men in black. It’s easier to ignore but for the regularity that these comments were made by the respected trainer it provides an interesting talking point. Was there a conspiracy against Zesco?

3. Not that it takes a lot for Nkana fans to pelt stones on the pitch or haul abuse at whistle-men but scenes at the Week 14 fixture involving Nkana who are squatting at Arthur Davies Stadium when they were denied a legitimate goal against Indeni were something that football does not need. The fans should have known that no amount of thuggery would reverse referee Stanley Hamaliwa’s suspicious decision.

Hamaliwa shockingly ruled an Ian Kafusha header off a Baldwin Daka cross for an offside infuriating the home fans.

2. Followers of Division Two and Three waited for three months to kick off following administrative challenges. With the Super Division league entering Week 8 the lower divisions were yet to take off marking a moment of anxiety in football circles particularly followers of lower division soccer.

1. It was Nkana’s laying-off seven senior players that provided the closing drama to the 15 weeks of league action. The move brought an end to the long Nkana careers of long time saviour Douglas Chiwaya and goalkeeper Kennedy Kalale. Joining the pack were Joseph Bwalya, William Chinse, Thumelo Chibwe, Lameck Mwale and left-back Mathews Kalunga.

Bolayathu

Posted by Editor on June 27, 2012. Filed under SPORTS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry