MTN FAZ Super League champions, Zesco United, lost their third consecutive Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Charity Shield defeat following a 1-0 defeat at at the hands of Zanaco at the Woodlands Stadium on Saturday.
Zanaco, winner rs of the Zambian football season opener title in 2001, 2003 and 2006 scored the only goal of the match through skipper Ziyo Tembo, who headed home from a Lawrence Chungu cross in the 39th minute.
Zesco United could have replied four minutes later when John Ching’andu, following a good solo run, found Jesse Were with a cushioned pass, only for the Kenyan striker to be denied by Mangani Banda.
After the break, it was Zanaco who continued to be on the front foot and they almost increased their advantage when Ziyo Tembo got to the end of Tafadzwa Rusike’s free kick, only to see his header ricochet off the upright on 65 minutes.
Both sides made changes in the second half, with Kosuke Nakamachi and Saviours Nkonkola replacing Thabani Kamusoko and Jesse Were respectively for Zesco United, while for Zanaco it was Guily Manziba, Lassa Kiala and Mwansa Nsofwa who came on for Ernest Mbewe, Tafadzwa Rusike and Charles Zulu.
Inspite of the changes there was no change to the scoreline at the final whistle.
The defeat for Zesco United means that this is the third consecutive season they have failed to win the Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Charity Shield, having lost the two previous editions to Nkana.
Earlier at the same venue, it was National Assembly who defeated Young Green Eagles 1-0 thanks to Godwin Chipanama’s 10th minute strike in the inaugural Eden University Charity Shield.
Zesco United XI: Dieudonne Ntibahezwa, Simon Silwimba, John Chishimba, Clement Mwape, David Owino, Kondwani Mtonga, Quadri Kola, Thabani Kamusoko, Umaru Kasumba, John Chin’gandu, Jesse Were
Substitutes:
Jacob Banda, Misheck Chaila, Mwape Mwelwa, Marcel Kalonda, Kosuke Nakamachi, Saviours Nkonkola, Fackson Kapumbu
Zanaco XI: Mangani Banda, Jimmy Nakena, Lawrence Chungu, Tiberius Lombard, Ziyo Tembo, Kelvin Kapumbu, Ernest Mbewe, Tafadzwa Rusike, Roger Kola, Souleymanou Moussa, Charles Zulu
Substitutes:
Racha Kola, Kebson Kamanga, Lassa Kiala, Mwansa Nsofwa, Guily Manziba, Belchance Makiese, Chitiya Mususu
#SamuelZoomNdhlovuCharityShield
Mutheliso Phiri 