ZESCO United FC chief executive officer Justine Mumba has told newcomers to strive to be the best.

Addressing the players on Saturday January 21 in Ndola, Mumba said Zesco had a reputation to maintain as a big club and no one should relax.

“Those of you who have just joined Zesco it is a pressure team. That is, we would want you to win trophies,” Mumba said.
“You have come to a team that challenges for titles. For those who have been promoted from our developmental teams [Malaiti Rangers and Vic Falls], the coaches have surely seen your potential, you are not merely participants but you are here to challenge for positions so that you can be the best amongst the best.”

Mumba also told them to maintain discipline.

“They are teams in this country that can finish number 8 or number 12 or survive relegation and finished 5th from bottom and nobody cares because they don’t have any desire to win the league. But if you playing for Zanaco, they will tell you they want to win the league, and they will fight to win the league. It is the same with Zesco,” Mumba told the players.

“The success of this club will always be attributed to discipline we have to name to keep as a club. So, whatever you do, you must realize it has an impact on the club,” Mumba said.

The Ndola giants are aiming to reclaim the MTN/FAZ Super Division title they lost to Zanaco last season as well as to retain the Barclays Cup they won after beating the latter in the final last November for a record fifth time.

The five-time champions also set another milestone for Zambian clubs in Africa in 2016 after securing debut qualification to the CAF Champions League semifinals, eight years after they became the first local club to reach the group stages of a continental club competition.