By SHAMAOMA  MUSONDA –
LEAGUE leaders Zanaco must be smiling at the sight of the MTN-FAZ Premier League Week-21 fixtures as their title challengers, Zesco United and Power Dynamos face each other this afternoon.
With the threat Nkana posed to the bankers title challenge put on hold this weekend owing to the champion CAF 2014 Confederation Cup duties in Ivory Coast, Zanaco can consolidate their stay at the summit with a win over troubled Roan away in Luanshya.
Zanaco lead the log with 43 points followed by Zesco on 42 while Power are third on 37 points same as Napsa Stars but the two sides are separated by goal difference. Nkana are in a distant fourth on 32 points but having played two games less.
Power v Zesco
Zesco have fought back to cut Zanaco’s lead to just a point but their crusade to get to the top of the log this afternoon comes under serious check as they come up against a Power side in desperate need of a win.
Zesco tend to stutter when expected to deliver like was the case in the reverse fixture that ended 0-0 but today’s game is one that the Ndola side will need to deliver to keep up with Zanaco, who have a seemingly winnable game.
George Lwandamina will look up to the twin strike partnership of Jackson Mwanza and Winstone Kalengo with a lot of help in midfield from Matthews Nkowane and will be happy to meet Power when pressure is mounting at the Kitwe side.
But Lwandamina will have a lot more to worry about considering the arsenal Power coach Tennant Chilumba has in the likes of Kennedy Mudenda, Julius Situmbeko, Richard Kasonde, Jimmy Njobvu and Alex Ng’onga.
Looking at this array of players explains why Power, the six-time league champions have one just loss in the league, the least this year but it boggles the mind to see the statistic that they have 10 draws, the most this year.
Arrows v Buffaloes
If Green Buffaloes coach Bilton Musonda has been looking for a win to get rid of the draws that have recently plagued his side, then this is one match he should believe that duck would be broken as he faces a fellow service side in need of a win after two straight draws coming after eight consecutive defeats.
Red Arrows have courted Fwayo Tembo in a desperate measure to start getting results while Buffaloes have looked to the young and fresh talent to get them the results.
Roan v Zanaco
Bottom side Roan face Zanaco at Kafubu stadium in Luanshya hoping to upset tables but against a well oiled Lusaka side, the task is a toll order and a draw could be considered decent enough result despite being at home.
Zanaco crumbled in the most unlikely fashion last weekend conceding two late goals to Nkana at home to lose 2-1 and Aggrey Chiyangi knows that any slip up in whatever form could seen his side wave bye-bye to the leadership the bankers have held for so long this year.
Napsa v Warriors
Napsa have been flying under the radar this season and no one is talking about them as title contenders yet they are better placed to challenge for the title than Nkana with nothing or little to separate them from Power.
The Hector Chilombo side plays Kabwe Warriors whose coach Mohammed Fathy has not just brought good results late but also got into a media storm after altercations with the media houses.
Eagles v Mine Police
Green Eagles take on Konkola Mine Police is a match they are expected to win at home despite coming up with a team playing some exciting brand of football but know it is such games needed to be won to stay up.
Other games this weekend involve National Assembly taking on Nchanga Rangers at Woodland Stadium while a fast sinking Konkola Blades host relegating fighting Indeni.