By ELIAS CHIPEPO –

ZANACO will today be out to restore its battered pride when they take on Power Dynamos seeking a victory to avoid suffering a third successive league defeat when the two giants battle it out in an MTN-FAZ Premier League Week 14 fixture at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
The ‘bankers’ are desperate for a win having dropped six massive points in the title race following successive defeats to Zesco United and Nkana and faces a rejuvenated Power side that has been playing some good football of late.
Zanaco lead the table with 29 points followed by Zesco on 27 points and Power are third on 26 points. Champions Nkana, in seventh place with 17 points, are out of action for atleast 24 hours before taking on troubled Red Arrows who have endured three successive defeats.
Relegation battles sees Kabwe Warriors guest Green Buffaloes at Woodlands Stadium in a crowd puller match that will be beamed live on SuperSport at 13:00 hours before sixth placed Napsa Stars host National Assembly in a Lusaka derby.
Power v Zanaco
Zanaco fans should be wondering what has suddenly hit their club to stop winning following a good run that saw the team register seven consecutive wins before starting to bounce cheques following a 1-0 and 2-0 defeats to Zesco and Nkana respectively.
Coach Aggrey Chiyangi will be banking on the likes of Roderick Kabwe, Moses Phiri, Dave Daka, Augustine Mulenga and Henry Banda to rise to the challenge and get his team back on track but must be wary of a Power side that has lethal players to win the match.
Tennant Chilumba will be demanding a win to ensure his side catches up with Power on 29 points and to get that result he will be counting on Alex Ng’onga, Kennedy Mudenda, Jimmy Ndhlovu and Richard Kasonde to score those important goals.
Zesco v Nakambala
Buoyant after ending Zanaco’s unbeaten run last weekend, Zesco head into this fixture with a perfect opportunity to take over league leadership with a win over bad travellers Nakambala Leopards should Zanaco lose to Power.
Coach George Lwandamina should be happy with his side recent performance and should expect the Ndola side to pick up maximum points off a Nakambala side that has managed three wins to sit on 11 points and fourth from bottom.
Pressure is mounting on Nakambala coach Wilson Mwale and technical advisor Dick Ngwenya after the Mazabuka side suffering defeats to Nchanga Rangers 2-1 and last weekend against Green Buffaloes 1-0 and will need a miracle to pick something off Zesco.
Buffaloes v Warriors
This promises to be an exciting encounter as it sees two coaches winning their first matches last weekend and wanting to build on that momentum. Bilton Musonda has had a rough patch since taking over from Patrick Phiri but the fans will be hoping the win over Nakambala is a start of good things to come for the army side currently occupying ninth place with 14 points.
Mohammed Fathy got his first win in his first two matches since taking over from Chintu Kampamba and returns to a stadium where he had a coaching stint with Assembly and will want a happy return.
Full Fixtures-Green Eagles v Konkola Blades, Assembly v Napsa, Buffaloes v Warriors, Power v Zanaco, Zesco v Nakambala, Nchanga Rangers v Indeni, Konkola Mine Police v Roan, Arrows v Nkana (tomorrow).