Zesco United coach Tenant Chembo says the five-point lead they opened in Wednesday’s home win over Buildcon has raised the bar for them to maintain with four games left. The five-time champions beat newcomers and town-mates Buildcon 1-0 in an Ndola derby home win at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Wednesday’s win also put some distance between Zesco and defending champions Zanaco who are second on 66 and 61 points respectively. John Chingandu’s 22nd minute goal not only handed Zesco the three points and most important, extend their unbeaten run to eight successive matches in which they have collected six league wins.

“It is a good feeling but it has invited hard work again we need to work hard towards that,” Chembo said. “But there is also a sense of belonging in the team everyone is raring to know that there is something that we are playing.” With four games left, Zesco are hoping to stay focused to reclaim the league title they won in 2015.

“Credit must go to the players they fought hard and the ball handling was magnificent (against Buildcon),” Chembo said. Meanwhile, Zesco have a big test in the final four-match stretch with a bigger derby date this Sunday. Zesco face archrivals Forest Rangers away at the same venue on Sunday. Forest was the second team to beat Zesco this season when they lost 1-0 at home on July 9 at Levy.