The 2017 FAZ Super Division season kicks off this Saturday with the defending champions Zanaco at home in Week 1.
Zanaco hosts 2004 champions Red Arrows in a Lusaka derby clash at National Heroes Stadium which will be their home ground for the 2017 season.
Arrows head to Zanaco in search of their first win over Zanaco since 2014 and have since then lost three and drawn one league match.
Last season, Zanaco beat Arrows 2-1 away at Nkoloma Stadium and 2-0 at home at Sunset Stadium.
But Arrows will be hoping the experience of ex-Zambia coach Honour Janza will end that drought following his appointment in January.
Furthermore, the champion’s head into the game bruised after a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the 2017 Charity Shield semifinals on March 30 at the hands of Nkana who finished 3rd in 2016.
Zanaco defeat was their first in 2017 from five competitive games after earlier drawing three, winning one and scoring just two goals in their opening four matches.
The champions stuttering form is not surprising following the mass exodus of eight key players in particular striker Fashion Sakala (to Spartak Moscow in Russia) and midfielder Roderick Kabwe (Ajax Cape Town in South Africa) who scored 9 and 7 league goals last year respectively.
And now the onus is on Saith Sakala and Ghana-born forward Kwame Attram to carry the burden as a new-look Zanaco begins its quest for an unprecedented 8th league title that will see them move within four of record winners Nkana.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers are Zambia’s second most successful team with 9 title.
FIXTURES
Week 1
08/04/2017
City of Lusaka-Green Eagles
Zanaco-Red Arrows
Napsa Stars-Nchanga Rangers
Nkana-Nakambala Leopards
Kabwe Warriors-Nkwazi
Real Nakonde-Buildcon
Lumwana Radiants-Forest Rangers
09/04/2017
Green Buffaloes-Mufulira Wanderers
Lusaka Dynamos-Power Dynamos
POSTPONED:Zesco United-Konkola Blades
