The 2007 Coca Cola Cup is turning out to be the year of the giant-killer after five out of the eight top-flight teams got knocked out in the preliminary round of this year’s tournament.
However, then top three club in the Faz Premier League all survived elimination on Saturday.
Defending champions Kabwe Warriors, Zesco United while Green Buffaloes were the only ones of the top-flight clubs to go through with a comfortable win to book their quarterfinals places away this afternoon.
Warriors went through to the last 8 thanks to a 5-3 win on post-match penalties away to division 2 north side Mining Rangers after a scoreless draw.
They were joined by Buffaloes who thumped another division 2 team this time one from the southern zone in the form of Mazabuka United whom they beat 3-0 in regulation time.
Goals from Sebastian Mwansa, Ezekiel Lungu and Dears Kakunta ensured Buffaloes passage to the quarterfinals in a fortnight’s time.
Zesco on the other hand made it through to the next stage after beating nemesis Chambishi 3-0 on penalties after their game finished 1-1 at fulltime.
The game in the 90 minutes saw two bizarre goals when Chambishi’s Zambia Under 23 defender Sandia Zulu scored an own-goal but later redeemed himself with one for his side before the match was settled on penalties.
Meanwhile, the top-flight casualties today included two-time Coke Cup champions Zanaco, Nchanga Rangers, Young Arrows, Konkola Blades and Lusaka Dynamos who all went out to lower league opponents.
Zanaco lost 2-1 away at Nkwazi with Keegan Phiri and Chipungu Musukuma scoring there for the hosts.
Winston Kalengo scored the consolation goal for troubled Zanaco who continue with their poor form since the club sacked Fighton Simukonda at the start of the week.
Young Arrows meanwhile were beaten 1-0 away to Nkana who had William Chinse to thank for the goal that sees the 2001 losing finalists go through to the quarterfinals.
Dynamos lost 4-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw away to Green Eagles.
Blades bowed out within the limits away to Riflemen this afternoon at NAPSA Sports Complex in Lusaka via a Brian Bwalya goal in the 35th minute.
Nchanga Rangers lost 3-2 on post-match penalties away to Young Green Eagles after a scoreless draw.
Viva Kalampa. This is our cup and we shall beat Zesco in the final.
Long Live Nkana FC
This is kalampa’s trophy!!!
Nkana RED Devils Power Dynamoes
1.Joshua Longwe 1.Blackwell Chalwe
2.John “‘LIBYA”‘ Kalusa 2.Edwin “Kai ka'”Kanyanta
3.Boniface Malitoli 3.Edwin’Injipishi’ Katongo
4.Ben Pabili 4.Able Mwelesho
5.Vincent Mandona 5.Micheal Musonda
6.James Jengela 6.Stafford Mutalama
7.Golden Kazika 7.Lucky Msiska
8.Dominic”Kabulubulu”Mutale 8.Albert Chomba
9.Amos Bwalya 9. Alex Chola
10.Jack Chanda 10.John Yamayamba
11.Nelson Muma 11.Peter Kaumba
Bench Bench
12.John Lumbwe 12.Ken Mwape
13.Vincent Mandona 13.Summerby Chansa
14.Jack Kafusha 14.Aggrey Chiyangi
15.John Kalenga 15.Beta Mbewe
16.Ben Chiteule 16.Gatian Chitalu
17.Chris Kaoma 17.Roy Chanda
1981 legue game first half Power 3 Nkana 2
Final score Power 3 Nkana 5
#3. Citizen
The good o’days are back!!!
Viva Kalampa!!!
Long Live Kalampa!!!
Coaches – Nkana Red Devils
At the beginning of the 1980’s Rhokana United sponsors decided to engage an expatriate english Coach to replace Henry Kalimukwa and Stone Chibwe for the team which was not doing very well. And so that they could compete with the cross town new phenonmenon Power Dynamoes with their internationally qualified coaches Fred Mwila and Jim Pasquil.
Arrival of the english coach Jeff Butler at Nkana brought radical changes to the team. He introduced the 4-4-2 system of for the first time in Zambia. Immediatly the team began it’s winning ways. Fighton Simukonda with coaching qualifications was brought in from Vitofoam as assistant coach. The executive refused and insisted that long time Rhokana player Moses Simwala understudy Jeff while Fighton became captain. When Jeff left Moses consolidated the side and Rhokana changed the name to red Devils and become indomitable for eleven years.
The lesson is that there must always be continuity on the coaching bench.
August 13, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
#5 Should have been posted under Noel Tsosi new coach for Zambia
Go Nkana Go. You are still the biggest club with the biggest supporters in the country. Viva Kalampa
GO ZAMBIA GO!!! we are behind you guys no matter what