Zesco United, Red Arrows and Nchanga Rangers head into the 2014 Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu semifinal doubleheader at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe looking less prepared than Nkana.
Poor pre-season form, fitness issues and late coaching personnel changes have hit the three clubs leaving Nkana are firm favourites to make an easy and smooth qualification to the February 22 finals.
Zesco for instance have lost all their five pre-season games scoring two goals and conceded a frightening 10 goals.
They face Arrows who last week technically fired their highly respected coach George Lwandamina after three years at the club.
Inexperienced assistant coaches Charles Kafula and Songwe Chalwe will be in charge of Arrows in their semifinal meeting against Zesco.
Meanwhile, Nchanga head to Kitwe just three weeks into their pre-season training and badly hit by departures of four off-season departures.
The biggest blow has been strikers Alex Ngonga and Felix Nyaende who returned to Power Dynamos after their loan stays expired in December.
Nchanga coach Fighton Simukonda will painfully miss the duo who scored eight goals each for his side last year to help the Chingola side finish third.
It doesn’t end there, key midfielder Frank Chibuye has also left Nchanga and has joined Nkana adding salt to injury with a semifinal date against them looming this weekend.
The burden has been left to homeboy striker Bornwell Mwape who enjoyed his best season at this childhood club after scoring 13 goals since he was promoted to the first team in 2012 by ex-coach Bruce Mwape.
However, Nchanga should expect a busy day at the back with Nkana striker Reynold Kampamba looking red hot playing a more deeper role in pre-season friendly’s despite not opening his 2014 account and seemingly enjoying a carryover of his responsibilities at the 2013 Cecafa Cup.
