THE BIRTH OF

ZESCO UNITED FC

AS WE KNOW IT TODAY

The journey all began in 2002, the 'little' known Zesco United team comprising the likes of Yona Mwango, Wado, Chalwe Kabamba went against all odds to stun mighty Zanaco with the likes of Kabamba Kalande, Clive Hachilensa, Kingsley Musabula & Kalumba Mpunga at Musa Kasonka Stadium in Coca Cola Cup.

In that year we reached the finals of the cup against Chambishi Blackburn Rovers which was to be played at Kitwe's Arthur Walter Davis Stadium. The Simeo Lubemba captained side was in force that year.

The Captain himself ripped us apart & Chambishi beat us 2:1 to win the Cup. I remember on our from Kitwe being on the same bus as the players. It was a long trip to Ndola, one of the longest 30mins drive ever.

A few weeks later, came a decider on who was going to get promotion to go from Division one North and guess who the opponent was, our Nemesis Simeo Lubemba. The guy was at it again, Chambishi won the Match 1-0 at the Trade Fair grounds & away they went to the Premiera Division.

2002 was a disappointing season but just a beginning of greater things to come. We were a team with no proper support from the company, no proper team bus to use. But the achievements of 2002 gave birth to an even greater 2003.

Management came on board that year & I saw one of the greatest team overhaul ever. We bought Emmanuel Mushichili (GK), Martin 'Dude' Bwalya and Solomon Banda all from Nkana. Dabid Chilufya had just come from Finland & we got him too.

Got Ben Michelo & Justin Mwilima (MHSRIP) from Kabwe Warriors, Ben Musabula & Shy Kumwenda from Zamsure, Bruce B. Banda from Forest Rangers to mention a few. Zesco United only lost 1 league game match that season and that was against Lowly Kalulushi Modern Stars.

They captured the services of Emmanuel Zulu in the midseason. It was the beginning of the ZESCO we know today. In the first year in our Premier Division we qualified to CAF and the rest is history. Now in 2016, Zesco United aim to make history by being the Zambian team to qualify to the semis of the CAF Champions League in the current format.