Defending champions Zesco United and 2018 runners- up Nkana battle to get back on their feet this Saturday in their respective home games following embarrassing league defeats over the last seven days.
Zesco head into their home date at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola against ailing Mighty Mufulira Wanderers a week after they were humiliated 4-1 away by Pool A leaders Zanaco in Lusaka.
The defeat saw Zesco fall five points behind Zanaco on 21 and 26 points respectively after thirteen games played.
But Zesco coach George Lwandamina described the result as a minor setback and is also hoping their first week-long break without any mid-week football action for the first time this season will recharge their systems.
“We are still there in the race and I am sure we will have had more time to rest now after playing every three days or so in a week which was not easy for the team,” Lwandamina said.
“Yes, we are five points adrift of the leaders but we still have 15 points to fight for and this is football you don’t know what it holds in the future.”
Zesco will also be seeking revenge against Mighty who handed them their first league loss of the season on March 13 with a 2-1 away defeat at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.
Second from bottom Mighty on the other hand need to leave Ndola with a point to keep their survival hopes alive as they face the likely prospect of making a quick return to Division One football.
And at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, Nkana are back in action following Wednesday’s 4-1 home loss to Pool B leaders Green Eagles.
That defeat was Nkana’s second straight league home loss after Lumwana Radiants beat them 2-1 there on March 30.
“The game at the weekend is very important for us to come out from this defeat,” Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi said.
“We have spoken with the boys they know what is ahead of us; we have strong players who can come out of this defeat.”
Nkana also know that they must beat MUZA this weekend because they need a big confidence boost before their looming May 1 date in Lusaka against in-form third placed Nkwazi in a rescheduled Week Seven fixture.
WEEK 14 FIXTURES
POOL A
27/04/2019
Zesco United-Mufulira Wanderers
Nakambala Leopards-Zanaco
Kitwe United-Prison Leopards
Kabwe Warriors-Green Buffaloes
28/04/2019
15h00:Lusaka Dynamos-Red Arrows
POOL B
27/04/2019
Nkana-FC MUZA
Lumwana Radiants-Forest Rangers
13h00:Circuit City-Power Dynamos
15h00:Napsa Stars-Buildcon
28/04/2019
13h00:Nkwazi-Green Eagles
