By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
THE MTN/FAZ Super League resumes after a two-week break with week two fixtures lined up this afternoon.
Champions Zesco United will however, not be in action against Napsa Stars due to a big number of players it has supplied to the national team, and this applies to the clash between Green Buffaloes and Mufulira Blackpool.
Lumwana Radiants’ long wait to kick-start their Super League campaign comes to an end today when they host Red Arrows in Lumwana where no drunk fan will be allowed to watch the game.
Rangers vs Power
Nchanga Rangers started life without their departed coach Fighton Simukonda ending in a 1-0 defeat at new comers Lusaka Tigers in the Week One matches. With new coach Bruce Mwape at the helm, Rangers will be looking to bounce back at home though they will be facing Power Dynamos, a team that has been tipped to be a title contender early in the season.
The match will also see Power striker Patson Daka return to Nchanga Stadium where he had a less than impressive season last year as goals eluded the youngster.
Daka looks to have put the poor stay at Nchanga behind as he was on the scoresheet in Power’s 2-1 win in the opening game against Napsa Stars.
Mwape will be eager to get a positive result in his first game in charge of the team but his opposite Tenant Chilumba is under pressure to impress this season having failed to win silverware in his first two years at the club.
Lumwana vs Arrows
Lumwana Radiants will finally start life in Super Division having been delayed as their Week One opponents Zesco were involved in the CAF Champions’ League.
Lumwana coach Allan Kamwanga knows too well that he is not only carrying the pride of the team but also of the entire North Western Province as his team made history by becoming the first side in the region to play in the Super League.
Lumwana will fancy their chances against Arrows.
Red Arrows on the other hand will be hoping to get a good result against the new comers especially that the technical bench was boosted by another experienced coach Hector Chilombo to deputise Mathews Phiri.
The encounter promises to be exciting both on and off the pitch though it will be a no go area for fans who are in a habit of watching matches drunk.
Lumwana management warned that anyone going to watch the match will be subjected to a breathalyzer and full mine safety conditions will be followed.
Zanaco vs Tigers
This will be the second tie of the day at the same venue after the Lusaka Dynamos against Warriors match.
Zanaco start their campaign today having not played their week one tie due to CAF Confederation Cup commitments.
The Numba Mumamba tutored side faces a team that is bubbling with confidence having bounced back to the Super League after 13 years in exile with a 1-0 win against Rangers on the opening day.
Tigers will be facing a Zanaco side that boasts of massive experience and players capable of making a difference at any stage of the match hence they will be cautious and probably employ a defensive approach.
Mumamba will miss the services of goalkeeper Racha Kola, midfielders Salulani Phiri and Isaac Chansa who are away with the national team, the squad is however, rich in resources and have enough cover to take up the positions.
Dynamos vs Warriors
Dynamos recorded an impressive but hard fought 1-0 victory on the league opening day and coach Perry Mutapa will be telling his boys not to let their guard down against Warriors who made an immediate come back to the Super League after spending a season in division one.
The match will kick off at 13:00 hours at Sunset Stadium.
Warriors coach Mohamed Fathy felt his side was unlucky to have been relegated at the end of the 2014 season after being docked some points due to indiscipline but the coach is back to prove a point that Warriors belong to the elite league.
Other fixtures will see Nkana host Green Eagles, Forest Rangers guest Nakambala and Mufulira Wanderers taking on Nkwazi.