ZESCO Fired Up For Swallows

ZESCO United will be hoping for a flawless performance today when they face Mbabane Swallows in the CAF Champions League preliminary round return leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Zesco are carrying an advantage after scoring in the 1-1 draw in Mbabane two weeks ago and a goalless draw will be enough for George Lwandamina’s men to book a date against Guinea’s AS Kaloum or Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast.
AS Kaloum beat Sewe 2-1 in Abidjan and host the Ivorians tomorrow in Bamako, Mali.
The Guineans play their home matches in Bamako because of the outbreak of Ebola in the West African state.
History favours Zesco to progress to the first round of Africa’s lucrative club competition.
This is because no Zambian team has been eliminated by Swazi opposition in the Champions League.
Swallows, who arrived in Ndola yesterday, have in the last two editions lost to Zambian sides in the same competition.
Zanaco overcame Swallows 3-2 over two legs in 2013 and a year later Nkana beat the Swazi side 5-4 on aggregate.
“We know the players are mentally ready. It is their duty to execute the work and we have done enough to prepare for this game. We have worked on the mistakes we made in the first game and we are ready to go,” Lwandamina said.
He will rely on usual suspects Jackson Mwanza and Winstone Kalengo to do the damage.
Jonas Sakuwaha, Juma Liuzio, Lazarous Kambole and Humphrey Maseneko are the other players who could be called upon to teach Swallows a football lesson.
In midfield Misheck Chaila, John Ching’andu, Cletus Chama and Justin Zulu, the scorer in Mbabane, will take charge of proceedings.
Maybin Mwaba, who was not selected for the match in Mbabane, and Simon Silwimba are other options in midfield.
Swallows coach Siyabonga Bhembe is targeting an upset and will assemble a team that will be equal to the task.
“Zambian clubs have always given us problems. I hope this time they [Zesco] will be in for a surprise. We play well away and this gives us confidence ahead of Saturday’s game.
“We have big ambitions. We are looking beyond this game. There is so much placed on us, so they [Zesco] should not expect a walkover. I know it will be tough but we have made efforts to ensure that everything is in place,” said Bhembe from Mbabane on Monday.
Striker Felix Badenhorst scorer of the equaliser in Mbabane will lead the onslaught.
Baderhost scored twice against Nkana last year and the Zesco backline of Dauti Musekwa, Ayo Oluwafemi, Kondwani Mtonga and Emmanuel Mathias should police him.
Even though Swallows need to score at all cost as a goalless draw will not help them in anyway, they need to be cautious at the back and be water tight. Swallows can go with a 4-5-1 formation but include more creative players in the midfield whilst leaving Sandile Hlatshwako as a lone striker.
The dirty work should be left with Njabulo Ndlovu with Badenhorst and Wonder Nhleko in front of him in a triangle like midfield that will ensure cover and options when attacking.
Sabelo Ndzinisa, who has rediscovered his scoring touch, should start on the right wing with Tony Tsabedze on the other hand.
The strikers should be at their best to beat goalkeeper Jacob Banda.
“They are a good side and we conceded a set piece and we have worked on that. We promise our fans a positive result,” skipper Banda said.

Posted by Editor on February 28, 2015. 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