It was midweek of shocks that saw the Faz Premier League leadership change hands for the fifth time this season as two giants tumbled and two David’s triumphed.
Wedson Nyirenda’s Zesco United are the new leaders after they handed Green Buffaloes their first league defeat of the season on Wednesday crushing their hosts 3-0 at Independence stadium in Lusaka.
Zesco join Konkola Blades, Nchanga Rangers, Young Arrows and Zanaco who have all enjoyed a brief spell at the top of the log in the two-month old league campaign.
Zambia international midfielder Rainford Kalaba struck twice in a period of twelve minutes for Zesco before the opening half-hour mark with goals in the 11th and 23 minutes.
Kalaba’s brace means he joins Kabwe Warriors striker Emmanuel Mayuka on 7 goals at the summit of the scorers chart.
Ex-Ndola United striker Enoch Sakala scored his 5th of the season for his new club with Zesco’s third a minute after Kalaba’s second goal to beat Buffaloes.
Zesco are on 19 points, pulling away from former leaders and now second placed Zanaco on 16 who suffered their second defeat of the season and first at home since November 26 last year.
Zanaco lost 2-1 at home to 7th placed Lusaka Dynamos as question marks are beginning to arise as to whether the defending league champions luster for a third-successive top flight title actually exists.
However, it was Zanaco who took the lead in the 56th minute in this modest Lusaka derby through midfielder Jack Chileshe.
But Dynamos rallied with goals from defender Hichani Himoonde and Under 20 playmaker Tom Bakala in the 64th and 75th minutes respectively to hand Zanaco their first home defeat since Forest Rangers beat The Bankers by the same margin at Sunset last November.
Meanwhile at Dola Hill, Forest stayed unbeaten at home this season but had to comeback from 1-0 down against Power Dynamos to finish 1-1 in a very boring encounter played at Dola Hill in Ndola.
Simon Bwalya put Power ahead in the 24th minute poking home the ball after a clanger from Forest goalkeeper Harrison Phiri’s.
Forest’s underperforming striker Bizwell Phiri Jr scored his first competitive top-flight goal for the Ndola clubs since they were promoted last season with the equalizer in the 74th minute after turning in a cross from the left delivered by Field Chipungu.
Forest swap places with Roan United to shift from 15th to 14th on the table while Power stay put in 11th place.
TABLE.
 ÂÂ
|
P |
W |
L |
D |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
||
|
1 |
ZESCO UTD |
9 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
4 |
11 |
19 |
|
2 |
ZANACO |
8 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
14 |
5 |
9 |
16 |
|
3 |
KONKOLA BLADES |
9 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
|
4 |
YOUNG ARROWS |
9 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
11 |
1 |
16 |
|
5 |
KABWE WARRIORS |
9 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
9 |
4 |
15 |
|
6 |
CITY OF LUSAKA |
9 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
15 |
|
7 |
LUSAKA DYNAMOS |
9 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
11 |
-6 |
15 |
|
8 |
NCHANGA |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
14 |
|
9 |
BUFFALOES |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
|
10 |
NAKAMBALA |
7 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
12 |
-5 |
9 |
|
11 |
POWER DYNAMOS |
7 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
-2 |
8 |
|
12 |
NAT ASSEMBLY |
9 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
-4 |
7 |
|
13 |
RED ARROWS |
8 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
11 |
-5 |
7 |
|
14 |
FOREST RANGERS |
9 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
-4 |
6 |
|
15 |
ROAN UTD |
9 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
13 |
-7 |
6 |
|
16 |
ZAMTEL |
8 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
-6 |
3 |
Well done Zesco United, the moment I heard that Wada Wedson Nyirenda took over as coach of Zesco I knew something good would come out of the Ndola side.
He is a very hardworking coach with a good heart to develop young players.
keep it up Zesco. and thanks so much for Lusaka Dynamos for distroying the already distroyed Zanaco.
congrats to lusaka dynamos ,zanaco wacks ,they dont deserve to be called champions ,their a degrace to the nation.hope u keep on winning so that they dont win the league again.good job well done L/dynamos.kabwe warriors fan residing in atlanta ga.
Go “zesikolo timu ya ziko” go.
Just a word of advice to my “young brother” Kalaba work on your displine on the pitch. You are definately headed for big time in your football career.
Learn from the “Great Kalu Displine Code.” Kalu did not make it to stardom by accident. From streets of Kamuchanga to Eastlea, from John Yumba Kachofa to Shinde stadium, from Mighty to Circle Brugge displine was his key to success.
Keep it up Zesco “all eyes on you”! ZANACO has been a very big disappointment at continental competion
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! aplbcezuuwwzd