By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

ZESCO United yesterday left for Mali with assistant coach Tenant Chembo confident his side will beat AS Kaloum to sail through to the next round of the 2015 CAF Champions League competition.
The Zambian champions were held to a 1-all draw by Guinean side Kaloum and will need an outright win or a higher scoring draw to secure a place in the next stage when the two sides clash in the first round return leg at the at Stade du Mars in Bamako.
An Ebola outbreak in Guinea has forced Kaloum to play their home games in Mali.
Chembo said in an interview before departure at the Simon Mwansa Kapempwe International Airport that Zesco was ready for the assignment at hand in Bamako.
“We are ready for the match, we worked on the mistakes observed in the first game and our aim is to win. It won’t be easy but we just have to get the result to qualify us,” he said.
Head coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina left in the advance party at the weekend ahead of the match.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan group, sponsors of the under 19 Super Cup to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday donated an assortment of bags to the Zesco United academy.
Metropolitan Zambia finance manager Maunga Kwenda, who presented the bags on behalf of the group, said his company was delighted to be associated with the tournament that has been going on in the past 26 years.
“We are happy that we are sending you to be part of the 32 teams there and you as Zesco will be the second foreign team along with Swansea from England. We believe that you will perform well because I have information that some of you here are actually graduating to the main team and some of you are playing for the under 20 National team,” he said.
This is according to a statement released by Group marketing manager Raymond Kufekisa.
Zesco United Football Club chief executive officer Justin Mumba said the club is happy to be part of the tournament. Mumba said it was a privilege for both the club as Zesco United and the Under 19 team to participate in the tournament.
“As we go tomorrow (today), we should bear in mind that we are going for serious business and out to play, this is a chance for you to shine both as an individual and as a team,” he said.
Zesco United Under-19 captain, Benson Chilenga, in a vote of thanks, thanked Metropolitan group for the gesture and promised to work hard at the tournament.