By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –

ZESCO United coach George Lwandamina says his team has matured and ready for the rigors of the CAF Champions League as they will fight to make Zambia proud.
Lwandamina said teams on the continent cannot afford to look at Zesco as an underdog because they can only do that at their own peril.
He said this at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola yesterday before departure for Morocco where the Zambian champions play Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday.
“It will be a tough match playing away from home but the boys have matured enough to handle the Arabs. It will be more psychological playing away from home in front of a sea of Wydad supporters but we have prepared well and ready,” said Lwandamina.
Zesco will have the suspended duo of forward Jesse-Jackson Were and defender Ben Adan Banh, who served their one game suspension against Al Ahly, back for the midweek clash.
“It’s good to have them back as they are important members of the team. We missed them though others stood up to the challenge and fought to collect three points. We welcome them with both hands,” said a beaming Lwandamina.
Zesco will have to do without their Congolese striker Idriss Ilunga Mbombo who is still recovering from injury and skipper Jacob Banda.
Stand in captain Jackson Mwanza said the players are in good shape and the morale in camp was high.  Mwanza said Zesco would not be intimidated playing away because they are focused on collecting a positive result.
“We taking one game at a time, forget about the last game our focus is on this game against Wydad,” said Mwanza.
The full team that left with Ethiopian Airlines has goalkeepers Brown Nyirenda and Lameck Nyangu.
Defenders are Shemmy Mayembe, Ayo Oluwafemi, David Odhiambo, Ben Admah Bahn, Kondwani Mtonga, Simon Silwimba, Daut Musekwa.
Midfielders include Anthony Akumu, Misheck Chaila, Clatous Chama, Mathew Nkhowani, John Ching’andu and Mwelwa Mwape while Forwards are Jackson Mwanza, Lazarous Kambole and  Jackson Jesse Were.
The delegation leader is Football Association of Zambia committee member Elijah ‘Shenko’ Chisanga. Lwandamina holds no fears.