Many Latin American fans of Zesco United will tell you that their current team is "like The Beatles" and that this is a golden age and a golden generation of players which is set to become Zambian champions three times in four seasons come Saturday. We looks at the Zesco United Zegalácticos era that has featured the likes of Jackson Mwanza, Maybin Mwaba, Kondwani Mtonga, Nyambe Mulenga, Winston Kalengo, Jacob Banda, David Owino, and Jesse Were.
The golden age
Having been promoted to the Zambian Super League in 2004, Zesco United has enjoyed a golden age since 2007, most recently winning the League in 2014, and 2015. They are on the brink of making it three league titles in four seasons, having surprised the entire continent by reaching the CAF African Champions League semi-final in 2016. The last couple of years of this period inspired the label 'Zegalácticos', given by the Latin American followers as a homage to the team's cluster of African stars from countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Burundi, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, and Niger.
Soon after George Lwandamina's installation as coach in 2014, the likes of Jesse Were, David Owino, and Anthony Akumu (all from Kenya), along with the Nigerian international left-back Ayo Oluwafemi all arrived at the club to supplement a squad that already included players such as Winston Kalengo, Jackson Mwanza, Kondwani Mtonga, Maybin Mwaba, Nyambe Mulenga, and Jacob Banda. Then arrived the likes of Enock Sabumukama and goalkeeper Dieudonne Nthibahezwa (Burundian internationals), Ronaldo and Beckham, forming a side that drew attention from across the African continent and a sense of expectation wherever they went.
The key moment
Los Zegalácticos' peak came in the 2016 CAF African Champions League where Zesco reached the semi-final for the first time in their history.
A different philosophy
Since Lwandamina arrived at the club, it was clear that the intention to bring the Africa's best players to the city of Ndola, on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. The club developed a strategy dubbed 'Kalengo's and Were's', referring to the expensive Kenyan international striker Jesse Were and the homegrown legendary striker Winston Kalengo (affectionately known as Kalengoal by the Latin American fans of Zesco United), and combining the signing of global talents with the nurturing of academy prospects. The club is now coached by the Serbian, Zlatko Krmpotic.
What Zesco United's Latin American fans say …
"Los Zegalacticos are a marvel to watch. They are like The Beatles, like kids playing out on the pitch."