TITANS FACE-OFF: Buffaloes host Power Dynamos as Napsa and Zanaco renew rivalry

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

POWER Dynamos will today seek revenge when they face Green Buffaloes in a clash of the titans scheduled for Edwin Imboela Stadium in Lusaka.

A 11th minute strike from winger Golden Mashata was the difference the last time the two sides met at the Arthur Davies Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Kitwe.

The Kitwe giants are enjoying a seven-point lead at the summit of the MTN/FAZ Super League table and a win in today’s FAZ Super Leagues’ week-28 fixture is key to achieving their ambitions of winning their first Super League title since 2011.

Today’s clash presents a tough test for both sides seeking to protect their unbeaten run in the last five games where they have both collected three draws and two wins.

Power coach Mwenya Chipepo will depend on goal poachers Andy Boyeli and Thomas Chidewu after the duo contributed eight goals from the 11 goals scored in the last four matches for the Kitwe outfit.

In the middle of the pack, Chipepo will look to Owen Tembo, Frederick Mulambya, Laurent Muma and captain Linos Makwaza to dictate play while Jackson Mulambya, Aaron Katebe, Faustin Bakodila and John Soko are expected to be solid in defence.

After a successful outing with the national team, goal keeper Lawrence Mulenga is expected to start between the sticks for Power.

For former Power Dynamos assistant coach Masautso Tembo who is now Green Buffaloes head gaffer, the clash against the Kitwe side presents the soldiers a chance to reduce the seven-point gap to four.

Tembo will depend on Captain Chilimba Moonga and Golden Mashata to provide leadership after the duo scored braces in Buffaloes’ last two wins over Nkwazi FC and Lumwana Radiants respectively.

 Meanwhile, in the lunch time kick off at Edwin Imboela Stadium, Napsa Stars and Zanaco FC will renew their rivalry as the bankers seek to recover from a disappointing run.

Zanaco are winless in the last seven games where they have recorded three draws and four defeats and are outside the top 19 on the Super League table.

The bankers are 12th on the log with 34 points collected from eight wins, 10 draws and nine defeats and todays clash match presents them a chance to complete a double over Perry Mutapa’s charges who they edged 2-1 the last time they faced off in November last year.

And after a successful month of March where they collected six points in two games, Napsa Stars will fight for revenge as they aim to start the new month on a positive note.

The Perry Mutapa-drilled Pensioners have proven to be tough competitors since they won promotion from the national division one and are sixth on the log with 39 points collected from 10 wins, nine draws and eight defeats.

A win over Zanaco today may propel Napsa Stars to the top four brackets where they may have a chance to fight for a top two finish with eight games remaining to conclude the Super League action.