By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Zanaco visit Kabwe Warriors in a rescheduled Week 23 game at Godfrey Ucar Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe in their penultimate match of the season and a formality Midlands derby fixture that has added value due to the very recent history between these two teams.
Mumamba Numba heads to Kabwe seeking his first points there since his shocking decision in the middle of the 2024/2025 season to dump a Warriors side that was in the top two to return to rescue his former team, Zanaco, from relegation and in the bottom two of FAZ Super League log.
Zanaco lost 1-0 in Numba’s return in February 2025; in what was his sixth game in charge in a period in which he lost four matches.
Numba avenged that loss with a 3-2 home win this season.
But Warriors are still ahead of Zanaco this season albeit it marginal on the FAZ Super League log, in 3rd and 6th place with 50 and 49 points from 32 games played, respectively.
Numba said the objective was now for a symbolic top 4 finish with no second place ticket to fight for since the CAF Confederation Cup slot was given to the ABSA Cup finalists.
“It will be a tough one because Kabwe Warriors also want to finish in the top four brackets. That is what makes this game exciting and tough going. But all we need is to go there with a positive mind and a winning mind so that we fight on the pitch so that at the end of the day, we have the winning points,” Numba said.
Numba added that Zanaco is also aiming to maintain the momentum after beating visiting Nchanga Rangers 1-0 last week that saw them bounce back from a 2-0 away loss to relegation-fighting Napsa Stars.
“Of course, every time you drop points, the morale of the players tends to be low. But after the win, everyone is motivated and charged up for our game against Kabwe Warriors. So we are motivated, and we are looking forward to this game,” Numba said.
Today’s game is also a big test for Warriors, who lost 1-0 at home to mid-table Zesco United on May 16 and will be looking to get a win in their last home match of the season.
Meanwhile, in the other Wednesday fixtures, Zesco are back in Kabwe this time to face demoted Mines United in a rescheduled Week 24 game.
FC MUZA hosts 4th from bottom Nkwazi in a rescheduled Week 32 fixture in Mazabuka that was postponed from last Wednesday due to a function at Nakambala Stadium.
