Ex-Zesco United defender Ben Banh has joined Nkana from Buildcon as the Kitwe side makes modest signings for their 2018/2019 CAF Champions League campaign.
Nkana, though, have failed to make any jaw-dropping signing to replace 2018 Golden Boot winner striker Idris Mbombo who opted for cash-rich Al Hilal of Sudan at the end of his one year loan stint with the 12-time Zambian champions.
Banh returns to continental football twelve months after he left Zesco where he spent three seasons with the Ndola side.
Coincidentally, Banh is the second high profile ex-Zesco player Nkana have gabbed since Mbombo who arrived this year from Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab.
The veteran Ivorian-born defender has joined Nkana on a twelve month loan deal from Buildcon.
Also in at Nkana is Kenyan midfielder Duncan Otieno who arrives on a two year contract from Nairobi giants AFC Leopards.
However, Nkana have lost their most dependable left-back Diego Apanene who has reportedly decided to move on to greener pastures.
Interestingly, veteran player-coach Joseph Musonda has been retained on Nkana’s CAF roaster.
Defender John Mwengeni, who had failed to reset after his torrid 2018 CHAN episode in Morocco, and is not in coach Beston Chambeshi’s plans and is set to leave on loan.
Meanwhile, speculation that Nkana’s perennial target Larry Bwalya could finally cross the road from Power Dynamos has been quashed and the midfielder is not on 2018 FAZ Super Division sides’ CAF list.
But the Red Arrows duo of striker Festus Mbewe and midfielder Shadreck Malambo have extended their loan stays for another term.
There is, however, no place for any Nkana players sent out on loan in July including striker Bornwell Mwape whose six goals for the Lusaka club helped save them from demotion.
GOALKEEPERS: Allan Chibwe, Moses Mapulanga, Kelvin Malunga
DEFENDERS: Moses Nyondo, Hassan Ramadhani, Gift Zulu,Laison Thole, Ben Adama Banh, Joseph Musonda, Musa Mohammed, Richard Ocran, Given Sinyangwe
MIDFIELDERS: Duncan Otieno, Shadreck Malambo, Yannick Mulenda, Jacob Ngulube, Harrison Chisala,Kelvin Mubanga,Shadreck Musonda, Freddy Tshimenga, Simon Bwalya , Bwalya Kasonde
STRIKERS: Walter Bwalya, Ronald Kampamba, Festus Mbewe
Nkana defence was solid so much that the departure of Apanene is not an issue. The acquisition of that player from Buildcon is non-started. We need to beef up the striking force. In defence we have a lot of young Zambian defenders we need to groom at the club. Zambian clubs will never have a proper succession plan because of the influx of foreign players who are changing clubs like no man’ s business. This is slowly affecting our national team. FAZ where is the policy on the foreign players featuring in Zambian Clubs. This policy is overdue. Do not wait until this problem escalates.