By ADRIAN MWANZA at Nkoloma Stadium –
Napsa 0 Zesco 0 (4-2 penalties)
COACH Linos Makwaza declared his side’s intent to win the 2017 Barclays Cup regardless of the opponents after Napsa Stars edged champions Zesco United from the competition to set up a final against Zanaco.
“Our aim is winning this tournament because we are going to prepare adequately and we do not mind which opponent we face,” declared an elated Makwaza in a post match interview.
Makwaza saluted the players for remaining resolute against a Zesco side that gave them a good run.
Napsa, the 2012 winners, however, faced a tough opposition in a side that was chasing its sixth Barclays Cup title and had to keep cool to advance to the final after winning the penalty lottery.
The defeat compounded Zesco’s woes and especially that chief executive officer Justin Mumba had issued an order for the Ndola side to win a double, MTN-FAZ Super League title and Barclays Cup, to make up for the disappointing exit in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Under pressure Zesco coach Zlatko Krmpotic expressed disappointment with outcome but was quick to add that it was normal in football to win and lose some games.
“Obviously it’s bad that we lost but we will do better next time around as this was a learning point,” he said.
Both teams failed to find the back of the net as Zesco dominated play in the first half with Jackson Were causing problems for the ‘Pensioners’ while on the other side, Chitiya Mususu missed a clear chance after his header went straight in the hands of Zesco keeper Jacob Banda in the 10th minute.
Jackson Mwanza responded five minutes later with a cracker which went wide and did not cause problems for Napsa keeper Masosa Bola.
The second half did not produce much action as they both failed to create scoring chances until the referee blew his whistle to send the match into penalties.
Napsa scored the first through Alex Mwamba but Were made it 1-1 then Solomon Sakala converted the second to give his side a 2-1 advantage but was cancelled out by David Owino for a 2-all score.
Austin Banda reclaimed Napsa’s advantage when he converted his kick while Zesco defender Fackson Kapumbu ballooned his strike over the bar before Dickson Chapa also missed for Napsa.
But Zesco missed their second straight kick through Magnum Makembo as Man-of-the-match Collins Sikombe took the winning kick beating keeper Diuedonne Ntibahezwa to send Napsa through.
Zanaco 1 Dynamos 0
ZANACO assistant coach Dabid Chilufya said it was time his side won the Barclays Cup after the bankers beat Lusaka Dynamos to reach only their second final appearance but the trophy has eluded them.
“We have never won the Barclays Cup and we need it in our bank. We have told the players it will be good for Curriculum Vitae but we are mindful Napsa won’t be pushovers,” he said.
Zanaco last appearance in the final as in 2010 and they lost 2-0 to Zesco.
A Felix Nyaende goal was all Zanaco needed to reach the final where they will face Napsa on October 28 at Heroes National Stadium.
Nyaende scored the game only goal in the 27th minute when he headed in a Heriter Nkonko cross inside the box as his performance earned him the man of the match award.
Fwayo Tembo came close to levelling scores but ballooned the shot over the ball two minutes later before he squandered another opportunity in a one-on-one with keeper Toaster Nsabata but headed wide at goal in the 48th minute.
Dynamos coach Patrick Phiri described the defeat as painful especially that his side played well compared to Zanaco whom he said only had one decent chance at goal.