By SANDRA MWILA –
LEAGUE defending champions Zanaco this afternoon put their title winning credential on the line in a tricky rescheduled Week-12 rescheduled home fixture against Lumwana Radiants.
Zanaco lie seventh on the table with 31 points seven off leaders Zesco United but have as many as five unplayed games but the draw on Monday against Green Eagles was their seventh this campaign, already more than they got in the title winning season last year.
Nonetheless, they will be aiming for maximum points today to climb up to fifth on the league log but know their opponents, have the same points and looking at the same prospect.
Both teams are coming from frustrating draws over the long weekend andwill be hoping to win their game today.
Zanaco are coming from a 1-1 draw against Green Eagles on Monday whileLumwana churned out the same score line against Red Arrows.
Lumwana seem to have had a new life after the coming-in of coach Zeddy Sailetiand have improved in the 2017 campaign.
The bankers will go into this match as favourites but they will have to cope with the absence of captain Ziyo Tembo, midfielders ErnestMbewe and Augustine Mulenga as well as goalie Toaster Nsabata who are atthe national team.
Zanaco coach Numba Mumamba said they will not underrate Lumwanabecause the Solwezi side has been playing good football this season.
“We are ready for Lumwana, we are taking it serious because wewant to get maximum points and climb the ladder,” Mumamba said.
Mumamba insisted that despite missing its key players, they will notstruggle because they have depth.
“We won’t be affected by the absence of some of our players we have abig squad and capable players to replace them,” Mumamba said.
And Saileti said his team wants to push their way up the up theladder as this was their only unplayed game.
“Zanaco is a big team, we respect them but we have also preparedadequately for them so that we can collect maximum points,” Sailetisaid.
He said Lumwana has been improving in every game and they willcontinue working on the confidence of the players.