By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE At Nkana Stadium –
Power 1 Zesco 3
NEW signee David Odhiambo scored a brace as Zesco United humiliated bitter rivals Power Dynamos to bag the 2015 Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield in a thrilling encounter played before a huge crowd in Kitwe.

•ZESCO United players hoist the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield after beating Power Dynamos 3-1 in yesterday’s final at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. Picture by KASUMPA KATAPA

Zesco put up a convincing display as they recorded a morale booster ahead of their CAF 2015 Champions League first round, first leg tie against AS Kaloum of Guinea to be played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on March 14.
Power will need to recover quickly as they travel to Gabon to face FC Mounana in the first round of the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup.
But it was Odhiambo, making his second appearance for the Ndola giants, who stole the spotlight when he opened his Zesco account with a brace to see his side overpower Power.
“I am very happy with the win, obviously it is a boost to us especially as we play the Champions league this weekend. Power is equally a good team and we gave them the first few minutes of the game and thereafter, it was us,” the visibly impressed Lwandamina said in a post match interview.
Power will have themselves to blame for a number of missed chances in the opening 20 minutes that went begging with forwards Alex Ng’onga and Richard Kasonde being the guilty parties.
For 20 minutes of play, Zesco never had a shot on and off the target as Power looked a better side and likely to break the deadlock. But for all their dominance and fancy play, Power had nothing to show for it.
With the first shot on target, Odhiambo outsmarted Billy Mutale in the air, powering home a powerful header off a John Ching’andu’s corner on 31 minutes.
Realising the danger, the stunned Power upped their game but Zesco’s defensive quartet of Odhuiambo, Khondwani Mtonga, Oluwafemi Ayo and Daut Musekwa were on hand to diffuse any threats as the game went into the break with the Ndola outfit holding on to the slender advantage.
After restart, Zesco continued pressing on with few flashes from Power as Ng’onga who saw much of the ball in the first stanza, was isolated as a lone striker and was constantly forced to pick the ball from the midfield.
Odhiambo’s show was not yet over as he grabbed his second goal in the 65th minute in similar fashion as the first goal from Ching’andu’s corner kick as the ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ chanting Power fans became mute with ‘United! United! United!’ Chanting Zesco fans grabbing the limelight.
Referee Wellingston Kaoma awarded Power a controversial penalty when substitute Felix Sunzu bumped into Mtonga in an aerial tussle and Ng’onga stepped forward to convert the spot kick in the 65 minutes.
A goal seemed to have breathed some life into a powerless Kitwe side but before fans could finish their celebration, Power were 3-1 down when Mutale turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Jackson Mwanza a minute later to dent Power’s hopes of a comeback.
Power coach Tenant Chilumba introduced Julius Situmbeko and Ignatius Lwipa, but the duo could not change matters as damage had already been done.
Meanwhile, a minute of silence was held in honour of the late Napsa Stars striker Elson Mkandawire who died in a road traffic accident on Tuesday and was put to rest in Chipata yesterday.
JULIUS PHIRI reports from Chipata that Mkandawire was put to rest at the St Annes Cemetery with Napsa area manager Elijah Mahamba saying the club has been robbed off a great striker and player.