Zesco United have warned their archrivals Nkana and Power Dynamos to now take them seriously as a Zambian football giant after clinching their six league title since they were promoted in 2004.

Zesco beat demoted nine-time champions Mufulira Wanderers 4-2 at home in Ndola on Saturday to go level on titles with Power and are now six behind record holders Nkana.

Nkana and Power have each won one league title each in 2013 and 2011 respectively during a period Zesco and Zanaco have hogged the headlines as league champions.

The champions-elect are also one behind Zanaco whom they dethroned as FAZ Super Division champions this season and who won their first of seven crowns in 2002.

“Undoubtedly unless people out there don’t believe it. And I want to remind the people of Kitwe (Power and Nkana) and other Copperbelt towns that Zesco have come, and they are a championship team,” Zesco CEO Justin Mumba said.

“How many titles have Kitwe teams won since we came back in 2004? The old folks, that are of my age, need to realise that the football of the 1980’s and 1990’s is gone. We are in the millennium and the teams of the millennium are Zanaco and Zesco. Winning sixth league titles and finishing second five times ever since we came back in 2004; it tells you we are the top team in the country.”

Zesco have also set the tone as the first Zambia club to reach the group stage in continental football and the CAF Champions League semifinals in 2016.

The Ndola side now the only Zambian club to have made three group stage appearances.