26 June 2011
Zambian league leaders Zanaco coach Wedson Nyirenda has predicted the race for the MTN/FAZ Super Division title will be between five teams.
The MTN/FAZ League will go on a mid-season break this week as Zanaco, who have dominated Zambian football over the last decade with five titles, lead the standings for first time this season after they relinquished their crown to Zesco United in a turbulent 2010 campaign.
Nyirenda’s team are top on goal difference after 12 games on 22 points with fellow five-time winners Power Dynamos, 2004 champions Red Arrows and promoted surprise package Nakambala Leopards also in the chase.
“It is not going to be easy to be there because we have good challengers out there,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda said his former club and 2007, 2008 and 2010 champions Zesco, who are currently sixth on 16 points from eight matches played with four games in hand, are still their prime team in the Super Division as they try to put behind them a forgettable campaign in Africa this year.
“Zesco have experience and also have one of the biggest squads in the country. Then there is Power who are looking good and are playing good football. Arrows too with (former Green Buffaloes and Zambia Under-20 coach George Lwandamina) have found some voice are playing very well,” the former Power and Kaizer Chiefs striker said..
Nyirenda said then there is yo-yo club Nakambala, who should not be ignored.
“Nakambala should not be discounted. Since they were promoted, they have constantly been in the top three positions,” he said.
Nyirenda said Zanaco’s status at the top of the MTN/FAZ Super Division has been hard earned.
Nyirenda won the league title with Zanaco in his first year in charge in 2009 when he arrived at the Lusaka team armed with back-to-back Super Division crowns that he lifted with Zesco.
“I should say our position was hard earned,” Nyirenda said.
“I also believe we deserve to be at the top of the table after departure and some external issues that have affected the clubs performance.”
Last year, Zanaco were occupied with their involvement with CAF Confederation Cup apart from the administrative upheavals that disrupted the flow the Zambia league.
Furthermore, Zanaco began this season without half a dozen players including first choice Zambia junior goalkeeper Joshua Titima and utility defender Thomas Nyirenda, who joined Power Dynamos and Konkola Blades, respectively.
“Despite starting the season without key players, that is should not be taken as an excuse,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda has rebuilt the team with modest additional including young striker Moses Phiri who has scored four goals so far in 12 games.
Phiri is one of three players Nyirenda has plucked from Zanaco’s nursery Young Zanaco who feature in the Zambian third division.
“We have a blend of the new and the old and they are jellying well and at the right time,” Nyirenda said.
However, his biggest coup has been the acquisition of DR Congo-born striker Fabrice Mbimba from demoted City of Lusaka.
Taken from:
Zanaco predict tough battle