2006 Coca Cola Cup champions Kabwe Warriors will face last years Mosi Cup winners Zesco United next Saturday in the final of this years Samuel “Zoom” Ndholvu memorial Charity Shield.
Warriors booked their place in the final after beating defending Champions Zanaco 1-0 in their semifinal tie played at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka this afternoon.
Zesco on the other hand were 2-1 winners over Buffaloes at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe on the same day.
Warriors win was secured midway through the first half thanks to a 23rd minute goal through striker Maonga Kabuku.
The Railwaymens victory ended a run of three successive defeats in the same tournament against Zanaco starting from the 2003 final and semifinals of 2004 and 2005 league opener cup event.
At Arthur Davies, Zesco’s new coach Wedson Nyirenda enjoyed his first competitive career win in charge of a top-flight club with a convincing performance against Zambia’s Caf Confederations Cup representatives Buffaloes.
Nyirenda fielded 9 regular first team starters of last year’s unimpressive squad that struggled all of last season and survived relegation in the latter stages of the campaign.
Zesco were a lively throughout and their new coach Nyirenda animated too all of the 90 minutes as he inspired from the bench on the Ndola clubs way to next weekends final.
Refreshed Zesco took the lead in the 6th minute through a trademark free kick converted by Zambia international midfielder Rainford Kalaba that sailed into the top right hand corner of the net leaving Buffaloes goalkeeper Mike Poto riveted in his spot.
Zesco too enjoyed more shots on goal throughout the first period against an overwhelmed Buffaloes but were let down by some poor finish from Crispin Mwaba, Yona Mwango and Nicholas Zulu.
Buffaloes meanwhile restored parity against the run of play from a corner just 11 minutes into the match when Under 20 midfielder out jumped Zesco’s towering defence to nod in the equalizer.
Zesco sealed their win on 50 minutes through one of two non-familiar faces in Dan Mulenga, their defender who spent last season on loan at Nakambala Leopards.
Mutale, young brother of the late Kelvin Mutale, rifled in the ball from the edge of the penalty area on the right after Kabala slipped the ball into his path following an overlapping run from his right-back position.
Buffaloes had a good chance to equalize in the 69th minute through Newa Mwewa denied by the horizontal with Under 20 goalkeeper Jacob Banda beaten.
Meanwhile Faz has yet to reveal the tournaments final venue next weekend.
Courtesy of Kalumiana KalumianaÂ
