By SHAMAHOMA MUSONDA –

Medics 0 Tigers 1
FRED Ndhlovu scored the all important goal as Lusaka Tigers beat Mumbwa Medics to win promotion back to the Super League after enduring 15 years playing in the lower ranks.
But that feat faces a protest from rivals Nampundwe, who have lodged in a complaint with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) against Tigers for abrogating contractual agreements concerning a loan deal for Moses Mwanza.
Nampundwe, in a letter addressed to FAZ general secretary George Kasengele dated May 5, 2015 and August 28, 2015, complained that Tigers failed to pay the K2, 000 loan fee which was agreed and did not honour part of the deal not to play Mwanza against Nampundwe.
The matches in question that saw Mwanza torment his club, Nampundwe, were Week Seven and 24 fixtures that Tigers won 2-0 and 3-2 respectively.
Nampundwe, who are on 57 points, are demanding for the six points that will see them leapfrog Tigers into the second promotional slot.
With FAZ yet to decide on the matter, Tigers will for now celebrate joining Kabwe Warriors from the FAZ Division One South league but the situation is still tense in the northern zone where the top two promoted sides will be decided on the last day of fixtures.
Allan Kamwanga’s Lumwana Radiants, on 63 points, is all but promoted to the elite league but will need to avoid defeat in the season closing game against town mates Zesco Solwezi.
Kalulushi Modern Stars and Mufulira Blackpool are the other two sides, both tied on 60 points, with chances of winning promotion to the top flight league.
Meanwhile, Tigers had Ndhlovu to thank for a 47th minute goal that saw them finish ahead of rivals Prison Leopards and Nampundwe, who lost 1-0 away to Zesco’s Malaiti Rangers to finish on 57 points.
Tigers coach Chanda Mwape was ecstatic about the feat especially that he was the star player in the 1999 team that won promotion to play in the Super Division in the following year.
“It feels really great to get a team promoted and especially that it has been through hard work. We have planned this very well and very
long. I am happy for the players because they gave their all in difficult circumstances,” he said.
Mwape, together with his assistant Osio Akufuna and Boston Mwanza were in the Tigers side that won promotion and played in Super League in 2000.
The win lifted Tigers to 62 points and four clear of Nampundwe with just a game to go, while fourth placed Prison Leopards are a further point off.
In the northern zone, leaders Radiants defeated Gomes 2-1 to move to 63 points, three clear of their two worst rivals in Kalulushi and Blackpool who are both on 60 points with a game remaining.
Despite the three sides separated by three points, it is Lumwana who have a healthier goal difference of 24 compared to Kalulushi’s 22 and Blackpool 19.
Blackpool defeated Indeni 3-1 in Ndola to claw their way back into contention on a day that Kalulushi were held by bottom-of-the-table Konkola Mine Police with FQM Mining drawing 0-0 with Mining Rangers in Kitwe.
As Lumwana will be taking on town mates Zesco Solwezi in the season ending fixture, rivals Kalulushi have tricky home date with Ndola United with the odds getting higher for Blackpool who host Kabwe side, Chindwin Sentries.
Other results: Warriors 1 Luena Buffaloes 0, Prison Leopards 2 Kalomo Jetters 0, Riflemen 2 Katete Rangers 0, Lusaka City Council 4 Mongu Youth Stars 1, Livingstone Pirates 1 Kafue Celtic 0.