Faz Premier League roars back to life after three-week break

The Faz Premier League resumes this weekend after a three-week midseason break with leaders Zesco United taking the short trip up to Luanshya to face Roan United at Kafubu stadium.

Zesco enjoy a slender 4-point lead coming back from the break on 40 points with Green Buffaloes second on 36.

Meanwhile, Zesco return to action without inspirational midfielder and this season’s top scorer Rainford Kalaba who is currently attending trials at French Ligue 2 club Chateauroux where he has been for the last month.

Kalaba has been key in Zesco’s push in pursuit of its first ever top-flight title during the first half of the season with 11 out of the 14 goals he has scored this season recorded in the green and yellow of the Ndola club.

Zesco Coach Wedson Nyirenda will be hoping striker Enoch Sakala could carry the burden in Kalaba’s absence and also help lead the team to a second successive league win over Roan.

Sakala was key in Zesco’s victory in the first leg that the leaders won 3-0 in Ndola on April 14 when he scored the games opening goal.

Meanwhile, Roan will be hoping their top striker Ben Mwanza will be recharged from the break and fired-up to help “Stylish” maintain its nine-match-league unbeaten run.

Mwanza has during that good run found the target three-times out of his total of five goals this season.

In the weekends other major match, Buffaloes take the short trip across town to face Lusaka Dynamos who are three points behind them and trailing by as many points.

Buffaloes crashed Dynamos 4-0 and the army team will be hoping for more of the same against a handicapped looking Dynamos

The rest of Saturdays Week 20 fixtures will see third placed Kabwe Warriors face Zamtel in Ndola; defending champions Zanaco are away to Nchanga Rangers while National Assembly hosts Konkola Blades.

Young Arrows are away to Nakambala Leopards, Power Dynamos host City of Lusaka and Red Arrows await fellow strugglers Forest Rangers at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.