By Mubukwanu Kaingu
The 2024/2025 football campaign starts this Saturday with the season-opening Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Memorial Charity Shield final between Red Arrows and Kabwe Warriors at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Saturday’s Charity Shield final pits the FAZ Super League champions Arrows and Warriors whom they beat in the 2024 ABSA Cup final.
In the case of a league and cup double, as was with Arrows’ situation last term, they are obligated to face the ABSA Cup runners-up Warriors whom they beat 2-1 in the final.
Warriors this time also will play an Arrows that is also battle-hardened in the pre-season with five competitive games.
Arrows are fresh from the 2024 CECAFA Club Cup in Tanzania that they won as guest side in July and just last Sunday were back in Dar es Salaam to face Young Africans in a friendly the Zambian champions lost 2-1.
However, team selection for the final is by an online vote and so far by presstime ex Power Dynamos midfielder Godfrey Ngwenya is the most prominent off-season signing by Arrows on their projected starting XI.
Arrows’ duo of midfielder Saddam Yusuf Phiri and veteran striker James Chamanga are also riding high on the team’s vote.
Meanwhile, the Arrows-Warriors final will be preceded by the women’s charity Shield final between Green Buffaloes Women’s FC and Choma Eagles.
It will be the first time the men’s and women’s finals will share the same stage in a doubleheader.
