ZESCO United F.C.

ZESCO United

Zambia
Full name	ZESCO United Football Club
Nickname(s)	Zega Mambo, Team Ya Ziko
Short name	Zesco
Founded	1 January 1974;51 years ago (1974-01-01)
Stadium	Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola
Capacity	49,800
Owner	ZESCO
Chairman	Richard Mulenga
Manager	George Lwandamina
League	Zambia Super League
2024–25	2nd
Website	http://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.^{[ citation needed ]} 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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

• Zambian Premier League: 9

2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021

Runner up : 2005, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023

• Zambian Cup: 1

2006

Finalist : 2007

• Zambian Charity Shield: 5

2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2021

• ABSA Cup: 6

2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2025

Finalist : 2021

• Zambian Coca-Cola Cup: 1

2007

• Zambian Division One: 2

1980, 2003

Performance in CAF competitions

• CAF Champions League: 9 appearances

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

• CAF Confederation Cup: 6 appearances

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   DR Congo 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 — DF   ZAM Gift Mphande — MF   ZAM Kelvin Kampamba — MF   ZAM Bruce Musakanya — MF   ZIM Tafadzwa Rusike — FW   ZAM Chitiya Mususu — FW   KEN John Makwata

Former players

• Marcel Kalonda ^{[12] [13]}

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. "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.

External links

• Official website