ZESCO DEFENDS TROPHY ...AS THEY BAG THEIR 7TH TROPHY

Zesco United players celebrating their 3rd League title

SUPER League side Zesco United Football Club has successfully won and defended its seventh title after finishing top of the league table with 75 points.

The Ndola giants have played 34 games out of 38 of which they have managed to win 23, drew six and lost five.

The statistics means that even though four games are remaining before the league completes, no team can surpass the Zambia Electricity sponsored side even if they manage to win all the remaining matches.

Meanwhile, thirteen times Zambian league champions Nkana Football Club are runners up to Zesco United after accumulating 72 points.

Green Buffaloes Football Club has grabbed a third spot after finishing the season with 70 points while Green Eagles are fourth with 65 points.

The above results means that Zesco United and Nkana will represent Zambia in the CAF Champions League while Green Buffaloes and Green Eagles will compete in the Confederation Cup which is the competition second tier.

Meanwhile, four teams have been demoted to Division One after finishing bottom of the league table.

The teams relegated are National Assembly, Kabwe Youths Sports Academy, Nchanga Rangers and New Monze Swallows.

NO	CLUB	P	W	D	L	PTS
1	Zesco United	34	23	6	5	75
2	Nkana	36	21	9	6	72
3	Green Buffaloes	36	20	10	6	70
4	Green Eagles	36	18	11	7	65
5	Zanaco	36	19	4	13	61
6	Power Dynamoes	35	15	11	9	56
7	Kabwe Warriors	35	15	10	10	55
8	Buildcon	36	15	8	13	53
9	Red Arrows	36	13	12	11	51
10	Nkwazi	36	12	14	10	50
11	Forest Rangers	36	14	8	14	50
12	Lusaka Dynamoes	36	14	6	16	48
13	Kitwe United	36	11	11	14	44
14	Nakambala Leopards	36	12	7	17	43
15	Napsa F.C	36	9	15	12	42
16	Lumwana Radiants	36	9	12	15	39
17	National Assembly	36	95	10	17	37
18	Kabwe Youth Sports Academy	37		12	20	27
19	Nchanga Rangers	36	5	8	23	23
20	New Monze Swallows	35	5	8	24	17

The Parliamentarians are 17th on the league table with a total of 37 points from 36 games played.

Kabwe Youth Sports Academy are 18th following accumulation of 27 points while Nchanga Rangers are 19th with a partly 23 points with Swallows closing the table with 17 points.

Meanwhile, Zesco United Captain Jacob Banda says he is happy that his team has reign triumphantly again after winning the title on three consecutive time..

Zesco Limited Managing Director Victor Mundenda(left) flanked by zesco United Chairman Webster Musonda(right) in Ndola on Saturday last week.

"I just feel so amazed that we have managed to win our seventh trophy. Congrats to myself and the team for successfully defending the crown. We are champions!" Banda told Supersport.

He however said the league was so hard to win and thanked the fans for coming in numbers to support the club in the match which they lost to Red Arrows Football Club 1 nil.

"You know Nkana is a very good side but we thank our fans for always supporting us in our quest to victory," he said.

"We will continue to work hard so that qe can perform better in the CAF Champions league."

Meanwhile, Zesco United FC Chairman Mr. Webster Musonda had said it was a great achievement to win the league back to back three times in a row.

Musonda said this during the trophy presentation ceremony to Zesco Limited Managing Director Victor Mundende in Ndola.

"This marks a momentous occasions in the history of the Club," he says.

On the other hand, Victor Mundede, who is Zesco Limited managing director said he is very proud of the club and that the team has made its sponsors very happy.

Musonda further recognized the great work done by the former CEO of the club Justine Mumba and

thanked Richard Mulenga, who is the new CEO for accepting the challenge to take over from Mumba.

Musonda added that the Zesco brand has grown so much in the past few years and has attracted support from across the continent.

He challenged the team to win the Charity shield, the Barclays Cup and the league in the 2019 campaign and asked the technical bench to quickly convene and re enforce the team.

He has however assured the players that they are safe and sound at the club and that there are more good things to come adding that the club will make more replica jerseys for the fans next year.

"A huge congratulation to everyone

involved in the running of the club.

Special thanks to the supporters for

rallying the team and I assure them

that the club will work on a system

to make the replica Jersey more

affordable," he says.

Meanwhile, Zesco United Football Club fans have taken to Social Media to celebrate the clubs victory.

"I feel so excited that my team Zega Mambo has banked a seventh title. It feels so sweet hope ba neighbour [Nkana] wont cry over this one," Julius Mulenga posted.

Zesco United Team 

Story Writer: Barnabas Roberts Zulu Jr

Editor: Kabambe Darlington, Sherry Chabala, Ireen Watema.

Designers: Esnart Chikobeli, Valerie Banda

Sources: Susan Ngoma

Photos: Barnabas Roberts Zulu Jr

Table Compiled by: Barnabas Roberts Zulu Jr

ZAMBIA HOCKEY TEAM SHINES AT SUMMER OLYMPICS

 ............ as the team is CROWNED AS THE BEST HOCKEY TEAM IN AFRICA

Zambian team can hold their heads up high following the tournament- Picture by Around the Rings Images- ART.

 

It is obvious not among the most popular sports in Zambia but its international momentum has surely left a mark that will live to be remembered centuries ahead of this generation.

Zambia Hockey Under 18 team overcame all odds at the Summer Youth Olympics hosted in Buenos Aires, Argentina by pulling a giant killer’s act over two times defending champions Australia 6-4 to reach their maiden semi-final appearance in the history of the Olympic Games.

The Zambian boys started on a low and shaky losing out to host Argentina 4-0 before beating Poland 4-3 in the first round of the games.

Zambia challenges for the ball in a tense semi- final match - Picture courtesy of ART.

Their third match was against pre-tournament favourites Malaysia, of which they were beaten 7-2, before they walloped little known Vanuatu 17-1.

The result meant that Zambia would once more meet eventual champions Malaysia in the semi-final and that would mark the end of their journey at the tournament after losing out 7-4.

Ultimately, the performance of the lads was something that caught the eyes of many and this has earned them a place in the Guinea’s Book of Records as the Best U18 Hockey team on the Continent.

"An unbelievable achievement and I can't stress how impressive this is for the limited resources and support there is for hockey.  He added that indeed Hockey is one of the sports in the country that has received little or no support from relevant authorities and this has in some way affected its performance,”  Corey Hastings, former guest coach said.

A hockey team ready for the game. Picture courtesy of ART

But Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) Director Fredrick Chitangala has assured the Zambian Hockey team of continued support towards their success.

Speaking to Sports Insights crew, Mr Chitangala said he was pleased with the performance of the Zambian team stating that the Centre will continue to provide training opportunities to players, coaches and administrators in the country.

He further expressed gratitude to partners such as the Hockey Dreams Foundation and Coen Teulings, Chairman of the Merifi Capital in Belgium who have been crucial to supporting the development of hockey at the Centre and in Zambia at large.

Meanwhile, Hockey Association of Zambia Vice President Thomas Mumba said that he was happy with the performance of the team.

Mr Mumba said the team has met the target which was to reach the semi-final. He said the boys played well and managed to beat good teams such as Australia.

Phillimon Bwali manages the five-a-side hockey team. (ART).

Meanwhile, Zambian Hockey team player Phillimon Bwali came out second top goal scorer with 13 goals behind Malaysia's Akhimullah who bagged 22 goals to grab the top notch coveted award.

Under 18 hockey team getting ready for the match. Picture courtesy of ART.

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Story Written by: Darlingtone N. Kabambe and Barnabas Zulu
Edited by: Sherry Chabala and Esnart Chikobeli
Pictures Sources: Ireen Watema, Susan Ngoma and Valerie Banda