League Opens With Red Return

The 2008 Faz Premier League season kicks off this Saturday with the return of a giant overshadowing Zesco United opening day defence of their league title.

11-time league champion Nkana are home in Kitwe in their first top-flight game after four turbulent seasons away in Faz division 1 north.

Since their demotion in 2004, Nkana has witnessed four coaches and two stadium bans following two high profile acts of hooliganism.

Nkana host Lusaka Dynamos who have bounced back once to the Faz Premier League in the formers absence while their hosts struggled in the midst of controversy following their debut drop four years ago.

The meeting will also mark the two team’s first top-flight clash since 2003 when Dynamos were on their way down while Nkana stuttered before crushing the following term.

Nkana won 2-0 in their last meeting in Kitwe in a Week 29 match after an earlier 1-1 draw away in the Capital during a Week 14 game.

Dynamos look the strongest team on paper led from midfield by one of two of this season’s most promising young talents in 21-year-old William Njobvu.

Nkana are almost threadbare following the departure of their DR Congo striker Patrick Kabamba including his compatriot Ronald Sakapaji who have left for greener pastures elsewhere in Africa.

How William Chinse will inspire a starless Nkana against Dynamos with Hichani Himoonde in defence and livewire Njobvu and the stabilizing presence of Chabusha Malumani in midfield will be an interesting prospect to witness.

However, Dynamos biggest weakness coming into their league opener away to Nkana is their lack of potent firepower that could see them struggle for goals as they seek their fourth successive stay in the Premier League.

And in Ndola on the same day, Zesco kickoff what is expected to be their most challenging season with a home game against Roan United.

Zesco will be without keep player Rainford Kalaba who is out injured.

However, on-loan signing and striker Elson Mukandawire from Power Dynamos is expected to try and lead the defending champions to a respectable result.

Zesco have been unconvincing in outings in the Charity Shield and Africa Champions League so far after losing the cup and were spark-less in their continental match against URA of Uganda.

Zesco are looking average all of a sudden and their 18-day pre-season excursion to Dubai in mid-January seems to have left them drained for any early serious inspiration to defend their league title.

Meanwhile, Kabwe Warriors Egyptian-born coach Mohamed Fathy gets his first real feel of league action when the railwaymen travel to Lusaka to face promoted Nkwazi.

The match will see the battle of the two strikers with Warriors lead by Emmanuel Mayuka and Nkwazi looking up to enigmatic Keegan Phiri in what is expected to one of the must-see games from round 1.

And across town at Sunset Stadium, Zanaco host Power Dynamos with the home side loaded with young talent.

Focus will be on the second of this season’s must-see talent in Zanaco’s teenage attacking midfielder Henry Banda.

Together with Dynamos’ Njobvu, Banda is heir apparent to Kalaba’s crown as king of the park with the latter expected to bow out mid this year should he successfully secure a pending 4-year deal with Portuguese Superliga team Sporting Braga.

Elsewhere, 2007 league runners-up Green Buffaloes are in Chililabombwe to face Konkola Blades while Young Arrows and Red Arrows clash at Nkoloma.

Promoted Green Eagles and Chambishi await City of Lusaka and Nchanga Rangers respectively.