Is this the best team Zesco United have ever had?
There is no doubt that they are super, clever, and perfect.
That they have dominated to this extent in their chase for back-to-back titles underscores their strength.
The Zesco United machine just keeps running relentlessly.
It is hard to disagree with this verdict, especially from a purely aesthetic point of view.
This team played some fantastic football this season, but can they now win the CAF African Champions League?
They may have to rely more on grit and and hard work than on their attacking skills.
Perhaps a sweeper system might prove to be effective in continental football.
TP Mazembe are widely revered as the most attractive African club side of the current generation.​
If nothing else, this Zesco United side have the task of wresting that stylistic accolade off Mazmbe.
Nobody is likely to disagree on this one.
Zesco United have never played a brand of football as modern, as attractive, and as contemporary as TP Mazembe in their whole history.
Zesco United are going through what they hope will turn out to be a remarkable transformation since they played AS Kaloum earlier this year in the CAF African Champions League.
That game was little more than a dead rubber after AS Kaloum had nearly broken Zesco United's all-time unbeaten home record in continental football, only to be denied by a late Justin Zulu header in the dying moments of the first leg.
An identical score of 1-1 in the second leg was followed by an AS Kaloum victory on penalties.
In hindsight, this was a defeat that Zesco United hope will prove to work out extremely well, however.
Coach George Lwandamina will have to be strong on motivational speeches and tactical details.
Some cash may have to be splashed to add one or two ruthless wingers and/or finishers to the squad to ease the burden on Winston Kalengo.
Can Lwandamina take the side to their first CAF African Champions League group in seven years?
We wait to see.
The importance of passing and possession should be emphasized.
Above all, Zesco United, a club that has always prided itself on the individual ability of their players, should be given a strong identity in continental football.
The team should be made more defensively balanced.
Zesco United needs a fluid style that can give the front men licence to roam and swap almost at will.
Adding an element of the high pressing would with no doubt, make them very effective.
Work ethic, a careful rotation policy and unparalleled strength in depth will make Zesco United the complete package.
Unlike Barcelona, who they have come to resemble on the pitch, Zesco United should never consider beauty as an end itself.
They should always define themselves by their ability to win trophies.
It was only a point that was needed to allow Zesco United to bag the 2015 Primera Division de Zambia title after drawing 1-1 with Forest Rangers in a Week 28 match at the Estadio de Dola Hill in a local derby.
Winston Kalengo put Zesco ahead in the lead in the fourth minute with a header, making it his 17th goal of the season.
Mwape Mwelwa’s free-kick found Lazarous Kambole who placed it to Kalengo to head past goalkeeper Makasa Mufwaya.
Mwelwa fired over the crossbar in the 29th minute as Zesco pressed on the pedal and Forest retreated.
Zesco suffered a setback on 42 minute when referee Milton Mweemba sent defender Simon Silwimba s for an early shower for a second bookable offence.
Kalengo could have doubled the lead in the 45th minute but Mufwaya parried the ball from his feet after a cross from Kambole.
After resumption, Kalengo shot wide in the 55th minute after dispossessing Ephraim Tsunanile and a minute later Mwelwa’s thunderbolt missed the target after combining with Kambole and John Ching’andu.
Kasanshi Lupiya who is on loan from Zesco United, replaced Mundia Makokwa in the 54thminute, nodded in Innocent Mwaba’s cross on 65 minutes beating goalkeeper Jacob Banda.
Zesco assistant coach Tenant Chembo was sent to the stands for arguing with the referee in the 67th minute.
In a bid to protect the lead, Zesco coach George Lwandamina withdrew midfielder Ching’andu for defender Bernard Mapili in the 86th minute.
Zesco United, having previously won the title in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014, how now clinched it in 2015.