It is no secret that there is an increased international element in Zambian football.
When Zesco United and Nkana FC lock horns in the much hyped Zambian Super League match, christined “Copper-belt” derby tomorrow, miles away in the East, Kenyan soccer lovers will be following.
The clash will see two Kenyan internationals face each other, like they did back at home in the “Nairobi Derby”, but this time on a foreign soil, at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Jacob Kelly who joined Nkana FC from Kenyan Premier League side AFC Leopards in the July transfer window, enjoyed tormenting Zesco’s David “Calabar” Odhiambo former side Gor Mahia the three times he featured in the East Africa’s biggest football rivalry.
His equalizer in the last derby early this season left “K’Ogalo” fans deflated and feeling robbed just when they thought they had bagged the elusive bragging rights over Leopards who were then considered underdogs.
“Calabar’s” best moment against Jecob Kelly is probably his goal in second leg of the 2013 edition of Nairobi Derby, when he equalized in the dying minutes of the match, sending packed Kasarani Stadium into a frenzy; Gor went ahead to win the league that season for the first time in 18 years.
This rivalry is expected to cross over to Zambia tomorrow, with AFC Leopards fans expected to back Jacob Kelly’s Nkana with Gor Mahia faithfuls rooting for David Owino’s Zesco United.
Zesco currently tops the Zambian league with 44, 15 better than ninth placed Nkana. The Ndala based Zesco has not lost to Kitwe’s Nkana since 2004.
Written by
Mr. Bonface Osano
Find me on twitter @bonfaceosano