-The 2008 Faz Premier League season has claimed its first coaching victim with just one game played into the new campaign.
Konkola Blades have fired head coach Charles Mwila who took charge of the Chililabombwe club last October.
Blades have disclosed that Mwila was not fired because of the teams opening day 2-1 home loss to Green Buffaloes last Saturday but that the coach and his entire bench did not fit into their plans.
Mwila has been in charge since Dean Mwiinde who led them to promotion in 2005 was sacked after two and a half seasons in charge.
The club will name a permanent head coach before their Good Friday Week 2 match away to Kabwe Warriors.
While they search for a new head coach, Blades have drafted Jeff Chongo from division 2 team Lubengele who previously coached Konkola Mine Police.
– Zesco United arrived in Khartoum today at 11:00 Sudan time ahead of this Saturdays Caf Africa Champions League 1st round, 1st leg match against the competitions 2007 semifinalists Al Hilal.
Zesco arrive just a day before Al Hilal are scheduled to play an international warm-up against Ghanaian club Hearts of Lions-the game a build-up to Saturday’s Caf Africa Champions League fixture.
– Zambia Under-23 coach Peter Kaumba said he will draft in senior players to bolster his team that plays Swaziland in the two team’s inaugural Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) preliminary round, first leg qualifier at the end of the March.
Kaumba said today that the full team list will be unveiled on Wednesday but insisted that the majority of his team will comprise of Under-23 players.
Faz has elected to enter an Under-23 team in the CHAN qualifiers that will be exclusively competed for by home-based players from Caf’s member nation’s leagues.
Winner of the preliminary round two-way tie will face Botswana in round one who are on bye from the initial stage qualifiers.
The team will be camped in Kitwe after the Under-23’s final Olympic qualifier match against Mali on March 26 to be played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
The inaugural CHAN tournament will be held in Ivory Coast from February 22 to March 8.
Weekend Scorecard & Top Scorers Chart
2008 FAZ PREMIER LEAGUE
WEEK 1
15/03/2008
Zesco United 1(Nicholas Zulu 5″)- Roan United 1(Ben Nwanza 45″)
Konkola Blades 1(Arnold Malisawa 57″)- Green Buffaloes 2(Wilson Mutupa 39″, Dears Kakunta 86″)
Chambishi 0 – Nchanga Rangers 3(Mathew Macha 47″ 72″, Mathew Mwenya 90″)
Nkwazi 0- Kabwe Warriors 0
Green Eagles 1(Shame Kamanga 76″)- City of Lusaka 2(Tony Mukwasa 39″, Ken Chola 80″)
Zanaco 0- Power Dynamos 5(Simon Bwalya 44″ 60″, Rotson Kilambe 56″, Laugther Chilembe 69″, Francis Kasonde 83″)
Nkana 0- Lusaka Dynamos 0
Red Arrows 0- Young Arrows 1 (Kruger Mwansa 46″)
TOP SCORERS (After games Played 15/03/2008)
LEAGUE & CUP:
Morgan Hanjeema (Green Buffalkoes): 3
Simon Bwalya (Power Dynamos): 2
Reuben Tembo (Green Buffaloes):2
Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors): 2
Wilson Mutupa (Green Buffaloes): 2
Nicholas Zulu (Zesco United): 2
Elson Mkandawire (Zesco United): 1
Newa Mwewa (Green Buffaloes): 1
Sebastian Mwansa (Green Buffaloes): 1
William Njobvu (Lusaka Dynamos): 1
Ben Mwanza (Roan United): 1.
Mathew Macha (Nchanga Rangers): 1
Mathew Mwenya (Nchanga Rangers): 1
Kruger Mwansa (Young ARROWS: 1
Tony Mukwasa (City of Lusaka): 1
Ken Chola (City of Lusaka): 1
Shame Kamanga (Green Eagles): 1
Rotson Kilambe (Power Dynamos): 1
Francis Kombe (Power Dynamos): 1
Laughter Chilembe (Power Dynamos): 1
Dears Kakunta (Green Buffaloes): 1
Arnold Malisawa (Konkola Blades): 1
FAZ DIVISION 1
NORTH
WEEK 1
16/03/2008
Prison Leopards 1- Chindwin 1
Mufulira Blackpool 1- Mining Rangers 0
Kitwe United 1- Mufulira Wanderers 1
Indeni 0- Ndola United 0
Kalewa 0 – Tazara Express 0
Muchindu 0- Medical Stars 1
Zamtel 0- Forest Rangers 1
15/03/2008
Lime Hotspurs 0- Afrisports 0
SOUTH
16/03/2008
WEEK 1
Lusaka Celtic 0- Lusaka Tigers 1
Lusaka City Council 1- Livingstone Pirates 1
Kalomo Jetters 2- Zamcoal Diggers 1
Kambuku Warriors 1- Chilanga Heroes 2
Young Green Eagles 3- Petauke United 0
Builders Brigade 0- Profund Warriors 2
National Assembly 1- Nampundwe 1
Mazabuka United 1- Riflemen 2
Young Buffaloes 0- Nakambala Leopards 3