Power Dynamos head coach Danny Kabwe has given up on the league title after his team played out a goalless draw with already relegated Mufulira Blackpool in a Week 30 match played at John Kachofa Stadium on Wednesday.

Kabwe’s side, in third position with 53 points, still have a mathematical  chance at the title but failing to win their previous three matches means they can only attain a maximum of 68 points should they win their next five matches.

They are eleven points adrift of leaders Zanaco, four behind Nkana in second and seven points ahead of fourth placed Zesco United who have eight games in hand. Their run in will see them coming up against Mufulira Wanderers (H), Nakambala Leopards (H), Kabwe Warriors (A), Lumwana Radiants (H) and Lusaka Tigers (A).

They will be ruled out of the race should Zanaco win any two of their remaining five league matches but finishing second could still be attainable.

“The race is known; all we are fighting for is to finish at a respectable position. I always say that we have set our own targets and we will know at the end of the season whether we have met those targets or not. The title is already gone, that is a known fact. Isn’t it?”

Meanwhile, the draw for Mufulira Wanderers was their twelfth of the campaign leading to coach Mathews Njobvu saying that it was a confidence builder for upcoming matches as the team turned their focus on life in the lower league next season. They are the only side not to have recorded a victory in the current season.

“We are playing Green Eagles in our next match, we will be fortunate to collect three points but with this kind of performance the boys will have gained confidence. The way forward for us is to build the team for next season in Division One,” said Njobvu.

Elsewhere, leaders Zanaco defeated Red Arrows 2-1 to move to 64 points thanks to first half goals from Saith Sakala and Richard Kasonde. Francis Simwanza scored the consolation goal for Arrows.

And a 7th minute goal by Austin Muwowo was the difference as Nkana defeated Lumwana Radiants to move to 57 points.

There was also victory for Zesco United who came from a goal down to defeat Lusaka Dynamos 2 -1 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Luka Chamanga gave the visitors an early lead after he converted from the penalty spot following a handball incident by Ben Adama Banh but the hosts equalized before the break through Mwape Mwelwa. Idriss Mbombo scored the winner in the second half.

Napsa Stars recorded a shock victory as they defeated Green Buffaloes 1-0 at Sunset Stadium. Collins Sikombe scored the only goal of the match in the 20th minute to help them move to ninth position with 35 points.

In Choma, Lameck Kafwaya scored the only goal of the match as Kabwe Warriors defeated Green Eagles 1-0 as they began a new era under Chintu Kampamba following Muhammed Fathy’s suspension last week.

Nakambala Leopards played out a goalless draw with Mufulira Wanderers. Week 30 action will be completed on Sunday when Forest Rangers host Nchanga Rangers on Sunday.

Source fazfootball.com

The sixth Teulings Youth Sport ChallengeGrand Finale will be hosted at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) on Saturday, 15^th October, 2016.

The Teulings Youth Sport Challenge is an annual event at which top teams and individual athletes compete in the finals after participating in the season’s Youth leagues in Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Football and Tennis, sponsored by Coen Teulings Chief Executive of Merifin Capital in Belgium.

The Teulings project has helped positively change people’s lives and hugely contributed to the formation of youth leagues that have given a lot of youth the opportunity to participate in organised and competitive sport.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hans Bertels, arrived in the country from Belgium on Wednesday to represent the sponsor Coen Teulings at the Grand Finale where outstanding athletes, teams, coaches and umpires will be recognized.

Aubrey Funga scored a brace while Richard Kasonde and Saith Sakala contributed a goal apiece as Zanaco defeated Nkana with a convincing 4-0 victory in the first semifinal of the 2016 Barclays Cup, reaching their second final of the competition in the process.

Zanaco last reached the Barclays Cup final in 2010 when they lost 2-0 to Zesco United.

For the first time in the competition, the referee was given discretion to allow for two water breaks, one in each half lasting a minute at a time. Referee Wisdom Chewe stopped the match for water breaks in the 23rdand 65th minutes.

Ironically, Zanaco’s second goal was scored two minutes after the first water break while the third goal was scored two minutes before the second break.

The bankers took an early lead through Richard Kasonde who opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a free header following a corner delivered by Rodrick Kabwe.

Aubrey Funga doubled the advantage in the 26thminute with a powerful shot at the top of the box to give Zanaco a 2-0 lead at the break.

Saith Sakala made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute before Funga added his second goal and Zanaco’s fourth of the match seven minutes later.

Nkana coach Aggrey Chiyangi described the defeat as very disappointing adding that players and coaches took the responsibility for the loss equally.

“To lose 4-0 is very disappointing because we had good chances to score as well. In short the result is not a reflection of how we played. But we have to Forge ahead and remain headstrong knowing that we are still in contention for the league.

“We cannot put the blame on our defenders or strikers but the team as a whole takes responsibility for the loss. We were not lucky with our chances today and we conceded goals which we could have defended. We could have overturned the result if we had converted even one of those chances,” said Chiyangi.

The victory for Zanaco means that they are on course to win both the league as well as the only cup competition in the country. Zesco United were the last team to win both the league and the Barclays Cup in 2014.

Zanaco will play the winner of the second semifinal between Power Dynamos and Zesco United at a yet to be confirmed venue which tentatively is Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka in November.

Teams:

NKANA

Scott Ngokene, Christopher Munthali, Joseph Musonda, Dieugo Apanane,  Given Sinyangwe, Jacob Ngulube Shadreck Musonda, Donashano Malama, Bonwell Mwape, Austin Muwowo (Simon Bwalya 55′), Ronald Kampamba

Unused Substitutes:

Amos Simwanza, Maybin Chishimba, Aubrey Chamulwanda, Harrison Chisala, Spencer Ngalande, Fredrick Mwansa

ZANACO

Toaster Nsabata, Aaron Katebe, Fackson Kapumbu, Ziyo Tembo, George Chilufya, Richard Kasonde, Charles Zulu (Fashion Sakala 75′), Boyd Musonda (Isaac Chansa 55′), Aubrey Funga, Saith Sakala, Rodrick Kabwe (Ernest Mbewe 40′)

Unused Substitutes:

Peter Jacob Banda, Michael Manzanza, Attram Kwame, Racha Kola

David Owino Odhiambo scored the only goal of the second semifinal of the Barclays Cup 2016 competition to give Zesco United a 1-0 win over Power Dynamos and a place in the final against Zanaco next month.

The Kenyan defender scored in the 53rd minute to atone for his countryman Jesse Were’s missed penalty in the 7th minute.

Zesco United were awarded the penalty following a handball by defender Francis Kasonde but Power Dynamos goalkeeper Allan Chibwe was alert to keep out Were’s effort.

However, Owino was not to be denied when he pounced from close range in the 53rd minute following a deflected pass from Clatous Chama.

Zesco United have won the competition four times and hold the enviable record of having never lost in the final.

They won the inaugural Barclays Cup competition in 2007 by defeating Chambishi 4-2 on post-match penalties following a goalless draw. The following year they retained the cup after defeating Power Dynamos 1-0.

This year’s final will be a repeat of the 2010 competition when Zesco triumphed over Zanaco with a 2-0 scoreline.

Lwandamina handed Zesco United their fourth Barclays Cup in 2014, in the process becoming the first coach to win the cup with two different clubs in successive seasons, having won it a year earlier with Red Arrows.

If he wins the 2016 competition Lwandamina will have won the competition a record three times as a coach.

“We expected a tough game. The pre-match talk was that Power Dynamos would have home ground advantage and it was obvious that they wanted the victory more than we did. But we had our own preparations; it is good that my boys rose to the occasion and made it to the final. As a coach, I want to win the cup for the third time,” Lwandamina told fazfootball.com in a post match interview.

And Power Dynamos coach Danny Kabwe said his team gave conceded the goal because they gave Zesco United to much space in their own half.

“We let them play in our own half, that is how we conceded. We were retreating too much in our own half and we gave them a lot of space in midfield. We did not put up a 100% performance. If we had duplicated what we did in the first half, the result could have been different but we went to sleep in the second half. That is how we lost.”

The official list of the nominees for the Confederation of African Football player of the year has been released.

The list which comprises 30 nominees from 17 different nationalities was released on Saturday on CAF’s official website.

Algerian Riyad Mahrez was included in the list together with his Algerian and Leicester City countryman Islam Slimani. 4 times winner, Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o also made the list with Cote D’Ivoire’s Serge Aurier and Eric Bailly also on the list.

Last Years winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon was also included after a successful 2015/16 season with Dortmund. John Obi Mikel and Kelechi Iheanacho from Nigeria also form part of the list.

Andre Ayew of Ghana and Kenya’s Captain Victor Wanyama have also been included in the 30-man shortlist.

Meanwhile, three Zesco United players have made the shortlist for African Player of the Year (based in Africa) Award. Zambia national team winger Jackson Mwanza, Congolese striker Idris Mbombo and Kenyan international Jesse Were have been recognized for their performances in Zesco’s historic run to the CAF Champions League semifinal.

Chipolopolo skipper Rainford Kalaba, who campaigns for Congolese giants TP Mazembe is also in contention for the award.

Here is a full list: 

1. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)

2. El Arabi Hillel Soudani (Algeria & Dinamo Zagreb)

3. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)

Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister, Moses Mawere, says he is pleased to learn that the Teulings Youth Sport Challenge has continued to engage more athletes in the country to compete in five different sports disciplines at grassroots level.

In a speech read on his behalf by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Agness Musunga, during the just ended 6^th Teulings Youth Sport Challenge Grand Finale held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC), Mawere said through the Teulings league, over 2,000 talented athletes have participated in both local and regional Games.

Mawere, said the OYDC is fertile soil for developing athletes who will continue to represent the country at Olympic Games by minting medals.

He added that government is committed to investing more in sport through different leagues such as the Teulings Youth Sport Challenge which is usually hosted the OYDC adding that it is yielding positive results.

And Hans Bertels, a representative of Coen Teulings, the Chief Executive of the Merifin Capital in Belgium announced that the sponsorship of the Teulings Youth Sport Challenge at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) will continue for the next two years.

Bertels, expressed happiness that the Teulings Youth Sport Challenge produced hockey teams which represented Zambia at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in China.

Meanwhile, OYDC Director Clement Chileshe, said the Centre will ensure that young athletes continue to enjoy the multi sports facilities to discover and develop their talents.

He disclosed that a total of US$130,000 was contributed annually by Coen Teulings adding that the money was used on hosting of competitions, transportation of athletes, health checks, purchasing of training equipment’s and feeding of athletes during league Games.

Chileshe, said it’s an honor that the sponsorship of the Teulings league has been extended saying that more athletes will be engaged.

And Loveness Mudenda, an Olympian at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics in hockey thanked Teulings and OYDC management for the league Games and educational services which she said have helped many youth.

The Teulings Youth Sport Challenge is an annual event at which top teams and individual athletes compete in the finals after participating in the season’s Youth leagues in Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Football and Tennis, sponsored by Coen Teulings Chief Executive of Merifin Capital in Belgium.

The Teulings project has helped positively change people’s lives and hugely contributed to the formation of youth leagues that have given a lot of youth the opportunity to participate in organised and competitive sport.

Outstanding athletes and coaches were rewarded with trophies and medals. Some of the winners were:

U15 Boys Basketball

Bulldogs

U15 Girls Basketball

Breathe of Heaven

U13 Boys Basketball

Matero Magic

U15 Boys football

Red Lions

U15 Girls football

Copper Bullets

U14 Boys Hockey

Leopard’s hockey team

U14 Girls hockey

Queens Hockey team

U15 Boys Volleyball

Makeni Volleyball team

U15 Girls volleyball

Munali Volleyball team

U15 Boys Tennis

Maxwell Nkhata

U15 Girls Tennis

Queen Sakala

Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister, Moses Mawere, on Thursday, October 20, successfully launched the National Centre of Excellence for Sport at the Olympic Youth Development Centre.

Speaking during the launch Mawere, said theNational Centre of Excellence for Sport is aimed at promoting talent identification and training of high performance athletes, capacity building for coaches and sports administrators in the Country.

Mawere, said government is cognizant of the numerous critical success factors required for international sporting success adding that the launch will help address technical support to athletes, coaches and provision of quality equipment and facilities including in preparation for participation in regional and international competitions for selected athletes.

He disclosed that the establishments of the Centre of Excellence will open doors to more opportunities stating that his ministry will endeavor to provide the much needed support.

The minister urged beneficiaries, to work hard so that the nation can expect medals as they compete during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 2019 All Africa Games and the 2020 Olympic Games.

Mawere, also unveiled a plague of the National Centre of Excellence for Sport and was flanked by Matero Member of parliament Lloyd Kazhiya and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development Agness Musunga.

Speaking earlier National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) President Mirriam Moyo, who is also OYDC Board Chairperson said with the launch Zambia is headed for bright future to mint medals at Olympic Games.

Moyo, said the Centre with the support of different sport federations has in the last six years supported high performance athletes to represent the nation at regional and international Games.

She thanked government for recognizing the OYDC as a National Centre of Excellence for Sport.

Meanwhile, Brian Kasinda, (Athletics) who spoke on behalf of other athletes pledged that the athletes will be minting medals during Olympic Games and regional competitions.

The launch was attended by Matero Member of parliament Lloyd Kazhiya, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development Agness Musunga, National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) Board Chairperson Mwamba Kalenga, Director of Sport in the ministry Bessy Chelemu, and representatives of different sports federations in Zambia.

Chipolopolo

Wedson Nyirenda

coach Wedson Nyirenda has announced changes to the initial provisional squad of players from the MTN FAZ Super League who had been invited for a residential training camp on October 16.

Nyirenda made the changes after residential camp was broken on October 20 to allow players to feature in league matches with their clubs.

The training camp resumes on Sunday, 23 October 2016 with the inclusion on the list of Isaac Chansa, Kelvin Kampamba, Patson Daka and Ronald Kampamba.

Those left out from the initial provisional squad are the Zesco United trio Mwelwa Mwape, Clatous Chama and Jackson Mwanza.

Team Manager Stanley Kaseko told fazfootball.com that the changes were made after Zesco United requested that some of their players be left out of the national team in order to help the club in the league where they have a backlog of seven games.

The revised list of invited players is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos), Racha Kola (Zanaco)

Defenders: Lawrence Chungu (Power Dynamos), Simon Silwimba (Zesco United), Billy Mutale (Power Dynamos), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Donashano Malama (Nkana), Ziyo Tembo (Zanaco), Fackson Kapumbu (Zanaco), Christopher Munthali (Nkana), George Chilufya (Zanaco)

Midfielders: Fwayo Tembo (Power Dynamos), Jackson Chirwa (Green Buffaloes), Kondwani Mtonga (Zesco United), Richard Kasonde (Zanaco), Isaac Chansa (Zanaco), Misheck Chaila (Zesco United), Kelvin Mubanga (Power Dynamos) Charles  Zulu (Zanaco), Rodrick Kabwe (Zanaco)

Strikers: Justin Shonga (Nkwazi), Patson Daka (Power Dynamos), Ronald Kampamba (Nkana).

The most anticipated MTN FAZ Super League Week 29 fixture between Zanaco and Zesco United ended in a goalless draw at Sunset Stadium on Saturday, a result which did little to favour either side in their quest for the league title.

The result means that should both teams win their remaining matches, they will finish level on 83 points, the league winner walking away with the title on goal difference.

The two giants will collide again next month in the Barclays Cup 2016 final tentatively scheduled for November 26 and by then the league would have already been decided.

Zanaco moved to 65 points from 28 matches while Zesco United moved to 50 points from 23 matches.

The game was evenly contested in the early exchanges with the hosts creating a fair share of half chances, the first decent chance arriving in the 22nd minute when Rodrick Kabwe forced a save out of Jacob Banda from a free kick which the Zesco United goalkeeper struggled to keep out allowing the ball to fall to Saith Sakala who could have done better with his point blank range effort.

Kabwe then saw his long range effort come off the crossbar bar on 33 minutes before Idriss Mbombo wasted two good chances at the other end in the dying minutes of the first half.

The second half was similar to the first half as both sides only managed to create half chances but Zanaco finished stronger with Kabwe’s dipping free kick which was tipped over and behind by Banda in additional time perhaps the major talking point in terms of chances.

#fazfootball

Nkana FC closed the gap on league leaders Zanaco to 5 points following a thrilling 6-3 win over Nakambala Leopards, in what is this season’s highest scoring match.

Walter Bwalya scored a hat-trick while Simon Bwalya, Ronald Kampamba and Given Sinyangwe contributed a goal apiece.

Lameck Banda scored in the 60th and 82nd minutes to grab a brace for Nakambala Leopards while Keagan Bwalya scored the third goal.

And Napsa Stars moved to eighth on the standings with 38 points after a 2-0 victory over Lusaka Dynamos thanks to goals by Chitiya Mususu and Alex Mwamba.

In Chingola, Nchanga Rangers gave away a second half lead to draw 1-1 at home to Red Arrows.

Kasonde Bwalya had given Nchanga the lead and hope of a win in the 70th minute but Festus Mbewe equalised at the death for Arrows to share in the spoils.

The match between Mufulira Blackpool and Green Eagles was abandoned with the two sides tied at 1-1 with three minutes remaining on the clock following crowd trouble inside the stadium. The outcome will be decided by the FAZ Disciplinary Committee.

On Sunday Lusaka Tigers host Forest Rangers in the day’s early kick-off that will be followed by Green Buffaloes facing off with Lumwana Radiants at the Independence Stadium in Lusaka while in Kitwe, Power Dynamos will host Mufulira Wanderers.

The draw for the 20th edition of the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament was conducted at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo on Monday, 24 October 2016.

Hosts Zambia were seeded in Group A while Senegal, runners-up from competition they hosted in 2015, were seeded in Group B because holders Nigeria did not qualify.

2003 champions Egypt, 1979 runners-up Guinea as well as 1989 runners-up and 2015 semi-finalists Mali were drawn in Group A.

Senegal were drawn in Group B along with South Africa (Runner-up, 1997), Cameroon (Champion, 1995) and Sudan.

Zambia will host the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, which will be the 20th edition of the competition, from 26 February to 12 March 2017.

The top four finishers will qualify for the 2017 Fifa U20 World Cup to be held in South Kor

Group A

Zambia (hosts)
Guinea
Egypt
Mali

Group B

Senegal
Sudan
Cameroon
South Africa