ZESCO United F.C.

ZESCO United
Zambia
Full nameZESCO United Football Club
Nickname(s)Zega Mambo, Team Ya Ziko
Short nameZesco
Founded1 January 1974 (1974-01-01)
StadiumLevy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola
Capacity49,800
OwnerZESCO
ChairmanRichard Mulenga
ManagerGeorge Lwandamina
LeagueZambia Super League
2024–252nd
Websitehttp://www.zescounitedfc.co.zm/
Green and Orange colours
White and green colours

ZESCO United Football Club (simply often known as ZESCO) is a Zambian professional football club based in Ndola, that competes in the Zambia Super League. Founded in 1974, the team plays its home matches at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

The club is wholly owned and sponsored by the state owned electricity supplier ZESCO.[1]

History and records

ZESCO United was founded in 1974. They became the first Zambian club to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage in 2009. ZESCO United are one of only 3 Zambian clubs including Nkana and Green Buffaloes who hold an all time unbeaten home record against non Zambian opposition. ZESCO United also became the first Zambian Club in the 21st century to play against European opposition when they played against Zenit Saint Petersburg in Abu Dhabi in 2008.

They reached their first ever semi finals of the CAF African Champions League after a 2–2 draw away to Egyptian league champions Al Ahly in Matchday 5 of the 2016 CAF Champions' League quarter final group stage.[2]

They extended their all time unbeaten home record against non Zambian teams to 26 games on Saturday, 17 September 2016, after a 2–1 home win against South African league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League.[3]

The club also created history by being the first Zambian club to sign Asian players, with Kosuke Nakamachi from Japan.

Stadium

Before mid-2012, ZESCO United played its home games at the Trade Fair grounds in the industrial area of Ndola.[4][5][6] After the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium opened in June 2012,[7] ZESCO United shifted to playing its home games at the new stadium.[8] The Trade Fair grounds remain a venue for ZESCO United to host matches when they need an alternative venue from the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, such as when the stadium has scheduled maintenance works.[8][9][10][11]

Achievements

2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
Runner up : 2005, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023
2006
Finalist : 2007
2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2021
2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2025
Finalist : 2021
2007
1980, 2003

Performance in CAF competitions

2008 – last 32
2009 – group stage (top 8)
2011 – last 16
2015 – last 32
2016 – semi-finals
2018 – group stage (top 16)
2019 – first round
2020 – group stage (top 16)
2022 – preliminary round
2006 – first round
2010 – first round
2013 – last 16
2014 – second round
2017 – quarter-finals
2019 – group stage (top 16)

Players

Current squad

As of 3 May 2021.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ZAM Jacob Banda (captain)
2 DF  ZAM Solomon Sakala
3 DF  ZAM Fackson Kapumbu
4 MF  ZAM Edward Tembo
5 DF  COD Marcel Kalonda
6 DF  ZAM Simon Silwimba
10 FW  ZAM Winston Kalengo
11 MF  ZAM John Ching'andu
14 DF  ZAM Adrian Chama
16 GK  BFA Dieudonné Ntibahezwa
17 MF  ZAM Logic Ching'andu
18 MF  ZAM Kondwani Mtonga
20 MF  ZIM Thabani Kamusoko
21 DF  ZAM Daut Musekwa
22 MF  ZAM Mwape Mwelwa
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 FW  KEN Jesse Were
26 DF  ZAM Mwila Phiri
27 DF  ZAM Clement Mwape
28 GK  ZAM Lameck Nyangu
30 DF  ZAM Samson Banda
— GK  ZAM Toaster Nsabata
— GK  KEN Ian Otieno
— DF  ZAM Donashano Malama
— DF  ZAM Bernard Mapili
— MF  ZAM Kelvin Kampamba
— MF  ZAM Bruce Musakanya
— MF  ZIM Tafadzwa Rusike
— FW  ZAM Chitiya Mususu
— FW  KEN John Makwata

Former players

References

  1. ^ "Zesco Utd embrace big bus theory". Lusaka Times. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  2. ^ "Africa: Success Story Coming From Zambian Club Zesco Utd in African Club Championship".
  3. ^ "Puncherello Chama gives his analysis of Zesco's win over Sundowns in the African Champions League semi-final 1st leg".
  4. ^ "Zambia : Zesco Fail To Crack Al Ahly". 2011-04-23. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  5. ^ "Zambia : Zesco United Surrender League Title". 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  6. ^ "allAfrica.com: Zambia: No Excuses This Time, Zesco Told". allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  7. ^ "Zambia : President Sata officially commissions Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, promises 10 more such facilities in Zambia". 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  8. ^ a b "Zambia : Chembo Turns to Trio to Down Power Dynamos". 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  9. ^ "Zesco United F.C shifts its remaining fixtures to Ndola Trade Fair grounds | Lusaka Voice". 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  10. ^ "Army Worms Invade Levy Stadium, ZESCO United Resorts To Trade Fair". tumfweko15.rssing.com. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  11. ^ ZESCO UNITED TO PLAY HOME GAMES FROM TRADE FAIR GROUNDS
  12. ^ "A Malayan tiger in Zambia: 'My name is Marcel Kalonda, and I am Malaysian'". footballpink.net. 15 June 2020.
  13. ^ "FAM ends Marcel Kalonda links after documentation snag". goal.com.
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