CHAMPIONS Zesco United have been pitted against Napsa while Zanaco will face Nkana in the 2018 Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield semi-finals set for Nkoloma Stadium on March 3.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications manager, Desmond Katongo, said the Charity Shield final will be played on March 10 preceding the 2018 League kickoff which is set for March 17.

The Charity Shield is the curtain raiser for the Super Division League whose proceeds goes to a FAZ charity of choice.

Katongo said the Charity Shield will comprise 2017 top three teams and the Barclays Cup runners up.

The 2017 Barclays Cup champions were initially the fourth team in the competition but FAZ decided to pick the runners up because champions, Zanaco, already qualified by virtue of being among the top three teams.

“The four participants in the 2018 Charity Shield will comprise the top three teams in the Super League in the 2017 season and the Barclays Cup runner up. The first semi-final will see Zanaco FC take on Nkana FC at 12:30 hours at Nkoloma stadium while Zesco United FC will face Napsa Stars FC in the second semi-final at 15:00 hours at the same venue,” he said.

And Napsa coach Linos Makwaza has welcomed the draw saying his side is fired up for the 2018 season.

Makwaza who was given the Napsa top job this week said his team has the capacity to beat Zesco and targeted winning the Charity Shield.

“Of course our target is to win the Charity Shield as the 2018 motivation but we first have to go past Zesco which I believe we are capable of. I hope the players will rise to the occasion,”