MATHEWS KABAMBA, ELIZABETH CHATUVELA, Kitwe, Lusaka
ZANACO will face a little known Binga FC of Mali while Red Arrows will tackle Tanzanian giants Simba in the Confederation Cup group stage play-offs next month. Chisi Mbewe’s charges will have to get a few notes from Chipolopolo midfielder Clatous Chama on how to stroll past Simba. Chama is now on the books of Moroccan side RS Berkane.
The draws were conducted yesterday by the Confederation of African Football. After dropping from the CAF Champions League, Zanaco were thrown into the second-tier competition, which is an equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
The Bankers, who have been unconvincing this season, have been handed a relatively straight-forward draw, but they need to prepare adequately as West African opposition cannot be undermined. Zanaco coach Kelvin Kaindu described the draw as fair. “It’s a fair draw but I think they are a good side. For them to have reached this far, it means they worked for it,” Kaindu said. Zanaco lost 4-2 on aggregate to Sudanese side El-Merreikh in the CAF Champions League first round.
Binga play in the second tier of Malian football but found themselves in the Confederation Cup after winning the Malian Cup. To reach this stage, Binga overcame MC Breweries and ASFA-Yennenga of Liberia and Burkina Faso, respectively.
Zanaco host Binga on November 28 with the return fixture after a week. Meanwhile, after silencing Angolan giants Primeiro de Agosto, Arrows face another mammoth task, with Simba standing in CLICK TO READ MORE