ZESCO United Football Club has been praised for its patriotism after the club’s victory over Ghana’s Asante Kotoko FC paved way for Nkana Football Club’s qualification to the quarter finals of the CAF champions league.
Soccer analyst Reuben Kamanga says ZESCO’s 2-1 victory over Asante allowed Nkana to finish as runners-up in the group despite being humiliated and thrashed 4-1 by Sudanese giant Al Hilal FC.
Kamanga said ZESCO’s heroics deserve commendation because the club has put the interest of national football before their own interest.
He said other clubs would have consigned themselves to lose the game which was a formality fixture as a win would not have qualified ZESCO to the next round.
Kamanga however said ZESCO showed character and patriotism when the team salvaged some pride in a come from behind win against Asante Kotoko.
And Zambia Sports Fans Association Patron Peter Makembo said Nkana’s qualification to the next round is a good development for Zambian soccer.
He said it’s good that ZESCO won, in order to enable Nkana progress to the next round, as Zambia’s representative.
Nkana looked set to bow out of Africa’s lucrative club competition after falling behind in Khartoum while ZESCO also trailed behind the Ghanaian club at Levy Stadium in Ndola.
However two quick goals from Jackson Were and Kondwani Mtonga completed ZESCO’s comeback win after substitute midfielder Nyarko had scored Asante Kotoko’s opener.
In Khartoum, Nkana were 2-0 down inside 20 minutes, despite Walter Bwalya scoring, to reduce the deficit.
Former Nkana marksman, Mbombo put the game and result beyond the Kitwe outfit’ when he scored Am Hilal’s fourth goal.
If only HH and the UPND were as patriot, Zambia would be a far much better place. The debt acruled under the PF would not have happened as Zambia would have a very stable government. But no HH had to challenge RB in 2011 hence giving Sata the chance to ruin the country before he died
Is this the way these Kamangas interpret things? Very shallow. Zesco did not win because of patriotism. Rather they did it out of sportsmanship. They wanted to win because they are Sportsmen not because they are Zambians
These comments are like coming from a child who has no knowledge of football and you call him a soccer analyst? Is this the calibre of soccer snalysis in you country?
Kamanga shudb cited for encouraging match fixing…
This reporting and analysis is uncalled for. Kamanga needs to be investigated by CaF and FIFA. Speaks like he fixed the match.
l don’t understand this nonsense of ZESCO being patriotic, bla bla bla! lam sure even Sudan is thanking Nkana for allowing Al Hilal FC to wallop them 4/2. Nkana showed true friendship! ZESCO won because they showed character period. Nkana qualified by shear luck as indicated by their last performance which cast a doubt on their stay in the second round. Not ifya kusabaila apa eeeee ZESCO this ZESCO that!!!!!
Nkana qualified not because of ZESCO or this and that, they collected maximum points on home games and accumulated 9 points. ZESCO and ASENTE lost points on home games to AL HILAL and got only 7 pints. that’s it.