Mumamba Numba will today know whether his squad is ready for the upcoming league season and the CAF Confederation Cup when the Zambian giants face Azam football club of Tanzania.
ZESCO United touched down at the Julius Nyerere international airport on Saturday evening ahead of tonight’s international friendly match against the Tanzanian giants scheduled for 19:00 hours Zambian time and 20:00 local time at Chamazi Sports Complex, Dar es Salaam.
The former Zambian league champions were welcomed on arrival by Club CEO Charles Kalala, Security Officer, Kennedy Sakala, Executive Member, Vespar Janza and Azam CEO, Abdul Karim Nurdin.
Numba will be expecting his side to put up a steller performance in what is arguably the clubs highly competitive friendly match before the opening of the 2022/23 football season.
“This is a very important friendly game for us especially that it comes a few days before the start of the new season. It will give us an idea of where we are as a team,” he said.
Meanwhile ZESCO United defensive midfielder, Donashano Malama says the game is very important despite being a friendly match.
“We are indeed taking this game very seriously as you can see, we have assembled a very good team. Everyone in the team knows what they are expected to do because this will be a big test run for us.
The former league champions have assembled a 22-star studded side composed of Kelvin Kampamba, Alfred, Austin Muwowo, Songa Chipyoka, Collins Sikombe, Keziron Kizito, Ian Otieno, and John Chingandu.
ZESCO United are without Cyril Chibwe, and Kenyan international striker Vincent Oburu who are currently recovering from injuries.
Like ZESCO United, the hosts will be hoping to use this match as both an exhibition for Azam Day and to assess the team’s readiness for the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Tanzanians have over the years become one of the country’s biggest football giants and will carry the country’s flag in the coveted CAF competition.
Author: Desmond Katongo | ZESCO United Media
