Nkwazi and Zanaco clash in the minor Lusaka derby that is threatening to finally make headlines this Saturday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
This derby has attracted very little attention over generations, but two high-profile arrivals in September at Nkwazi and Zanaco may temporally thrust it into the spotlight.
LUNCHTIME KICKOFF
Its insignificance has seen it scheduled for TV as a lunchtime kickoff of what will be a curtain-raiser to the first of another Lusaka derby doubleheader at Nkoloma.
Defending Zambian champions Red Arrows, who are second on the table, will host fifth-placed Green Buffaloes in the main event.
The game-changer in the Zanaco camp will be on the touchline in the form of Nigerian legend Emanuel Amunike.
Amunike was unveiled on September 29 as technical advisor, although Kelvin Kaindu keeps the title of Zanaco head coach.
This will be Amunike’s second Zanaco game after making his debut in another but more respectable Lusaka derby against visiting Arrows on October 1 that ended 1-1 at Sunset Stadium.
But Zanaco had to salvage a stoppage time draw in that match through striker Abraham Sinakombo after Arrows had taken a one-nil halftime lead through a 10th-minute penalty converted by Chipolopolo midfielder Saddam Phiri.
REBOOTING HIS CAREER
The second protagonist is striker Justin Shonga who rejoined Nkwazi after five years of mixed fortunes abroad that began brightly at Orlando Pirates in 2017.
But that Pirates stint later fizzled in Shonga’s second season before he drifted to Cape Town City FC, then moved to Ismaily in Egypt and later back to South Africa for a brief spell at Sekhukhune United.
Shonga then returned home last month to reboot his career and went straight back to his former club Nkwazi.
It has taken just two games for Shonga to spark when he scored a brace on October 2 away in Ndola to inspire Nkwazi to a 4-0 victory over winless and bottom-of-the-log Buildcon.
Shonga’s brace was his first of two goals since rejoining Nkwazi that helped propel the side to their first league win of the 2022/2023 season.
Before that emphatic away victory over Buildcon, Nkwazi had scored just one goal in their opening five matches of the season.
But Zanaco is a different prospect, and Nkwazi will feel the pressure of facing a bigger capital force despite the sides winning their respective home derbies last season by similar 2-0 scorelines.
Zanaco is the third most successful team in Zambia, with seven league titles plus three continental group stage appearances.
Nkwazi, on the other hand, have never played in Africa, nor have they won the league or own a major cup honour to their name.
The list of zeroes does not end there. As Shonga heads into the game, it will be at the back of his head that he has never scored against Zanaco in the Lusaka derby dating back to his first stint with Nkwazi.
