Leaders Zesco United could extend their lead at the summit of the Faz Premier League table this Saturday when they travel to Chingola to play 8th placed Nchanga Rangers in a week 10 Faz Premier League fixture.
The match will be an emotional one for both sides head coaches who have past links with the club they will be playing against this weekend.
Zesco coach Wedson Nyirenda left Rangers a disillusioned man in 2001 after almost three years as a peripheral figure on the bench and as head of the youth team before joining City of Lusaka that same year.
On Saturday, after stints as number 2 at City and Zanaco, he returns home as at the helm of a side riding high on the log and already touted as probably the Copperbelts’ only hope of winning the top-flight or finishing 2nd this season.
On the Rangers bench, Dick Ngwenya too will be out to embarrass his ex-club after he was sacked in July 2005 after some uninspiring performances on their way to finishing 2nd under Wesley Mondo.
Mondo himself was subsequently fired last year after a poor run during Zesco’ debut outing in Africa in the Caf Confederations Cup and in the last stretch of the 2006 season before the club made last minute relegation escape.
A win for Zesco will push them to 22 points that will see them maintain their status on the table while also a draw too would still be enough to leave them in command at the end of week 10.
Rangers meanwhile will be looking to maintain the momentum after crushing Young 2-0 away last weekend that helped them recover from that 3-0 thumping at the hands of Zanaco the weekend before then.
A wounded Zanaco meanwhile stays home for a second successive week where they entertain across town rivals City of Lusaka in their Capital derby.
A draw or second defeat at home for Zanaco should set into motion the pressure to bare down on head coach Fighton Simukonda.
In the weekends other league matches, Konkola Blades travel to Ndola to play bottom of the table Zamtel FC, while sister clubs Young and Red Arrows face-off at Nkoloma.
Kabwe Warriors are at National Assembly, Lusaka Dynamos host Nakambala Leopards while Green Buffaloes are away in Ndola to play Forest Rangers.
And at Arthur Davies, Power Dynamos are home and they host Roan United.
“Go Zesikolo Go” please make a change to our premier league competiton. Good luck