By Satish Sekar at the Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka © Satish Sekar (May 25^th 2021)

The Worst

Zanaco, currently chasing Champions’ League football next season delivered a performance coach, Chris Kaunda, described as ‘the worst of the season.’ He was not wrong. A 4-0 defeat at home against Buildcon is a bitter pill to swallow. However, the spectre of poor officiating reared it head again with bad calls for offside – the calls going against Zanaco.

It started badly by conceding a first minute goal. Ghanaian midfielder, Abbas Najeeb opened Buildcon’s account. Less than ten minutes later Buildcon doubled their advantage through former Forrest Rangers midfielder, George Chisha.

The bankers failed to cut the deficit and trailed 0-2 at half time. Whatever Kaunda said at half time appeared to have made little impression. Striker Conlyde Luchanga scored the third from the left of the area to the opposite corner.

Shortly afterwards Zanaco’s consolation was wrongly denied by the assistant referee’s flag. It was a terrible call by the assistant referee. He was in the wrong position and only seemed to see the scorer’s position after the rebound. It was clearly onside.

That summed up Zanaco’s afternoon. Such decisions cost jobs and is happening too often in top level Zambian football. But it got even worse. Former Nakambala Leopards striker, Patrick Ngoma added a fourth after 77 minutes, although there was yet another question mark over offside – where’s the VAR when it is needed?

A Mountain to Climb

Despite the awful showing, Kaunda believes that he can still turn it around. He made no excuses for the performance but remains confident that he remains the right man to take Zanaco forward.

It remains to be seen if the Bankers will give him time, especially with Buildcon, high on confidence, breathing down their neck, four points adrift although Zanaco have a game in hand. Red Arrows due to play relegation threatened defending champions Nkana in the second of this afternoon’s double-header also trail Zanaco by 4 points.

Buildcon have a possible nine points up for grabs – they can only secure second place at best. Zanaco are not mathematically out of the race for the title. but Zesco United must be favourites to regain the title – they have an eight-point cushion with two games in hand on Zanaco.