Zlatko Krmpotic’s five month reign as Zesco United took a big hit on Tuesday after the team suffered its biggest away defeat in continental action since making their African debut 2006.
Zesco were crushed 3-0 away in Calulo by Angolan club CRD Libolo to see their 2017 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals take a serious dent.
Julsy Kaya scored twice in each half to n the 8th and 77th minute before Fabricio Simoes added a penalty in 79th minute to punish a wasteful Zesco.
The defeat saw Zesco tumble from 1st to 3rd in Group C tied on 6 points with Libolo who are 2nd after the home victory.
Tuesday’s result has left Zesco without a win away in Group C following their second successive defeat on the road .
Zesco lost their first away game in Group C 1-0 away to new leaders Al Hilal Obied on May 24 in Sudan.
Obeid now lead Group C on 7 points after beating Smouha of Egypt 2-1 in the late Group C kickoff on Tuesday in Sudan.
Meanwhile, Krmpotic is facing a serious battle to convince Zesco fans following his appointment in February.
The 2016 CAF Champions League semifinalists are failing to replicate last year’s form under ex coach George Lwandamina in the 2017 Confederation Cup.
Zesco now face an uphill battle to qualify to the quarterfinals with another big away match in their penultimate Group C match on June 30 to Smouha in Alexandria.
But before then, Krmpotic is back on trial over his stay on the domestic front this weekend when Zesco visit unbeaten Power Dynamos whom they have defeated in all their last four league meetings since 2014..
This match could just define the Serbians destiny before the team flies out to Egypt next week.
Zesco are 4th in the league on 19 points,one behind Power but have mustered just two wins in their last five league games since Napsa Stars beat them 1-0 in Lusaka on May 6 to end their unbeaten competitive run in 2017.
Lelo,lelo, lelo.
I am just watching at a distance!!
It was a big mistake by ZESCO management to have appointed this man. He doesn’t even come closer to Lwandamina. Phiri Patrick can do far much better than this guy. Look at his team selection and positioning of the players!
Just because the guy is white. Problems with most so called learned Zambians.
Why didZESCO let Lwandamina leave
I would love to the books of this club and see where a chunk of its money comes from…this is the selfsame waste we talk about in Govt companies.
Let us wait & see
How do these foreign coaches find their way in the country? Look at the way Mighty has regained some prowess after sacking that Egyptian coach. Someone at FAZ is playing tidyelemo and the earlier he is fished out the better.
Stop Xenophobia. It is the 21st Century. Theres something called Global village
Stop lying. The Egyptian coach saved Mighty last year.
From the time this coach came the performance of the team is going down. The striking force is blunt and the current strikers need to be replaced.Quick action should be instituted now otherwise we are not going anywhere.
From the time this coach came the performance of the team is going down. The striking force is blunt and the current strikers need to be replaced.Quick action should be instituted now otherwise we are not going anywhere.