After a successful Valentine's weekend, Zambian Premier League defending champions Zesco United have briefly shifted attention to the 2016 season opener, the Community Shield which will be held on Saturday six days before the return fixture against Al Ghazala Wau in Juba, South Sudan.
Zesco will face Power Dynamos who they beat 3-1 in last years final of the same competition at Nkana Stadium.
Confederations cup representatives Zanaco will square it off with the 2015 Barclays cup winners Green Buffaloes FC in an early kickoff at Nkoloma Stadium.
Zesco resumed training yesterday after resting on Monday.
Zesco face Power in Charity Shield semis ZESCO United and Power Dynamos will renew their rivalry on Saturday when they clash in the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield semi-finals at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
The match will kick off at 15:15 hours while the early kick off is between Zanaco and Green Buffaloes. Having beaten Power three times last year, Zesco will be looking forward to continue with their dominance over the Kitwe giants.
Zesco trounced Power 3-1 in the 2015 Charity Shield final at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, 2-0 in a league match away and 2-0 in Ndola.
Zesco went on to win the Super Division title while Power finished third. On Saturday, the teams will be meeting for the first time this year. Zesco will use the match to prepare for next Friday’s 2016 CAF African Champions League preliminary round return leg against Al Ghazala Wau of South Sudan. Zesco beat Al Ghazala 2-0 in Ndola last Sunday.
Zesco coach George Lwandamina will welcome back skipper Jacob Banda in goal. Banda missed the match against Al Ghazala because of suspension. Dauti Musekwa, Ayo Aluwafemi, Ben Adama Banh and David Odhiambo will make up the backline and keep Power strikers at bay.
Anthony Akumu Agay and Misheck Chaila will battle for possession in midfield while Mwape Mwelwa and Cletus Chama will be on the right and left wings respectively. On their day, Mwelwa and Chama could be a thorn in the flesh for Power defenders. Chama scored a beauty of a goal in the victory over Al Ghazala.
To get goals, Lwandamina will rely on Idris Mbombo and Jesse Were. Mbombo was on target in the match against the South Sudanese. In case Mbombo and Were fail to deliver, Lazarous Kambole, John Ching’andu and Maybin Mwaba are other options for goals. Lwandamina is anticipating a tough match.