Chambeshi (left) , Lwandamina (right)

By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA –
NKANA face a big test in their defence of the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield when they face nemesis Zesco United today in the semi-finals at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
The defending champions have not beaten Zesco in competitive action since the latter were promoted in 2004.
Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi is not worried about that agonising record against Zesco heading into this afternoon’s clash despite coming against a team they also relinquished the MTN FAZ Premier Division League crown to in 2014.
“History is written and history is broken and so we will just keep our fingers crossed and see how we will perform on Saturday,” Chambeshi said.
“I think we have prepared very well and the team is intact and I am happy with the response from the players and looking forward to Saturday’s game.”
Furthermore, Nkana head into the game with a new look side after a spate of pre-season departures.
Among the high-profile departures was striker Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba who has joined Egyptian club Wadi Degla and midfielder Kelvin Mubanga shifting across Kitwe to Power Dynamos.
Defender Christopher Munthali has been recalled by Power, striker Festus Mbewe has moved to Red Arrows while Sydney Kalume is at Lusaka Dynamos.
Kampamba’s place has been taken by ex-Power striker Felix Nyaende while utility defender Donashano Malama is part of the old furniture at Nkana expected to hold things together in Wusakile going forward.
The meeting will also be the first time that Zesco face Nkana in the Charity Shield since the 2011 final which the Ndola side won 3-0 at the same venue.
George Lwandamina’s charges come into the game with the added advantage of playing one high-profile competitive game in 2015 last Sunday against Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland.
However, Lwandamina is still waiting for his strikeforce to spark after 2014 top scorer Jackson Mwanza and Winston Kalengo misfired in the 1-1 draw in the CAF Champions League last weekend in Swaziland.
Meanwhile in the lunchtime kick off, Power Dynamos face a Zanaco side under new management.
The match will mark Zanaco’s first competitive game this year under promoted coach Mumamba Numba who has replaced Aggrey Chiyangi after the latter was shunted to the technical director role.
Numba has a strong squad led by deadball specialist Roderick Kabwe but there will be no midfielder Isaac Chansa who is for now just training with Zanaco.
Power coach Tennant Chilumba is looking forward to a morale boosting result against Zanaco after losing 1-nil last Saturday away in Sudan to Al Khartoum in the CAF Confederation Cup.
“It’s also very important to win the charity Shield because it is the desire of the team to win every piece of silverware available and Zanaco is an interesting fixture, they have a new coach obviously we expect a new system of play,” Chilumba said.
The winners will meet in the final on March 7 at a venue to be announced by the Football Association of Zambia.