ZESCO unite to bring down less wounded Buffaloes - By Lubinda Nguleka

Zesco United continue on their winning streak with another win against Green Buffaloes which has seen them go six games unbeaten. The Team Ya Ziko as they are called by their local supporters, made a long trip down to Lusaka, to play Green Buffaloes in a week six double header match played at Sunset Stadium. The early kick off match saw Green Buffaloes play host to Zesco United while the late kickoff game saw Zanaco FC rock horns with Forest Rangers.
Coach George Lwandamina, went into the game with a 4-5-1 system that translated into a 4-3-2-1 formation, that saw the United's play with three defensive midfielders in Thabani, Anthony akumu and Kondwani. While upfront coach George started with Kalengo as his main striker, with Jackson Were and Quadri Kola playing just a bit behind him. In defence he kept faith in Adrian Chama and Clement Mwape, with Mwila Phiri aswell as Simon Swilimba playing as full backs.

His opposite number, Bilton Kuba Musonda went in with his traditional formation of 4-4-2 with the likes of Siame and Simpemba playing in the wing's, while Jack Chirwa marshalled the midfield with Buchizya Funi playing central defens. Upfront it was Friday Samu who was to get the goals for the Armymen in Green.

The game started on a high with Zesco United clearly making their intentions know with quite a number a string of passes. For the first few minutes of the game,  Buffaloes seemed to have handled the Zesco pressure, but hell brook loss when a defensive lapse from Malani Gondwe gifted Jesse Were, who run wide and hit the ball square into the Buffaloes 18 yard which Wiston Kalengo tapped in, to open the score with only 33 minutes played. With only a few minutes to the end of the first half Kalengo scored his second at 39 minutes, to see the match go to 2-0 at half time in favour of the visitors.

In the second half of the game, Buffaloes tried to come in with a few antics here and there, but Zesco couldn't take it anymore as they found the back of the net for the thrid time to see them go 3-0 on the score board with Kalengo grabbing a hat trick already. Green Buffaloes only got their consolation goal via Friday Samu.

This win for Zesco United sees them go to 15 point's with two game's in hand, a point behind league leader's Red Arrows FC, who are on 16 point's with a game in hand too. As for the Army men, week six results sees them drop to 14th slot on the table with only 6 point's from 6 game's.
At the same venue, Zanaco played host to Forest Rangers, whom they managed to beat via a 1-0 scoreline courtesy of a penalty kick from Tafadzwa Rusike, who was brought down in the 18yard and Referee Nkole awarded him a penalty.

Despite Forest Rangers playing so well, the had it hard to find the back of the net, something that made Forest Coach very sad with the results. Perry Mutapa couldn't hold his disappointment and had this to say

''Im very disappointed to lose to a team like Zanaco, It's painful, they can't even start from the back, look at the way Zesco United played today, that's real Zambian Football, Zanaco can't even start from the back, so painfull''.

By Lubinda Nguleka