• KABWE Warriors striker Jacob Phiri (right) tries to dribble past Zesco United defender Nyambe Mulenga during the MTN-FAZ premier league week 30 match played at Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola on Saturday. Zesco won 3-1. Picture by MOSES CHIMFWEMBE

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
ZESCO United assistant coach Tenant Chembo says the 2014 Zambian league champions want to end the year with a double by winning the Barclays Cup this Saturday.
The newly crowned champions take on Nkana in the Barclays Cup final at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in a match that will see Zesco eyeing their fourth title.
Coincidentally, Zesco has won both the Barclays Cup in the past three years. They have been crowned champions in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and Chembo is confident that his side will continue with the trend.
Chembo said in an interview yesterday that his side was not done yet with recording success this year as there was still the Barclays Cup in the offing.
He said Zesco had worked hard to win the 2014 MTN-FAZ Premier League title and that the team has remained focused on wrapping up the season with the league cup triumph.
“It’s going to be nice for us to win a double this season and we are determined to do that and end the season with two trophies, looking at how we have performed this season.
We have respect for Nkana because they are a big team but I think we will stick to our game plan and go all out to achieve our target. The spirit in the team is high and all the players are focused on the game,” Chembo.
The champions yesterday held training sessions at Trade Fair Grounds in readiness for this weekend’s clash against the Kitwe giants who are expected to regroup today following their 6-0 bashing of National Assembly.
Chembo expressed happiness with his side’s clean bill of health following the win 3-1 over Kabwe Warriors on Saturday saying that all the players were eligible for selection against Nkana.
Meanwhile, Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi said his side will want to make up to their fans by winning the Barclays Cup which has eluded the Kitwe side since its inception in 2007.
Nkana reached the group stages of the CAF 2014 Confederation Cup and finished fourth on the MTN-FAZ Premier League table seven points behind Zesco on 52 points.
“I hope we can carry the performance we showed against National Assembly into the Barclays final. We have not won this cup and it will be good to win and make up for failing to retain the league title,” he said.
Nkana’s best finish in the competition has been semi final finish in 2007 and 2011 and were eliminated at quarterfinal stage in 2009 and 2013.
Zesco eliminated Napsa Stars in the semi-finals winning 1-0 while Nkana beat Konkola Blades 2-0 during the double header at Arthur Davies Stadiums.