ZESCO United F.C.
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| Full name | ZESCO United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Zega Mambo, Team Ya Ziko | ||
| Short name | Zesco | ||
| Founded | 1 January 1974 | ||
| Stadium | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola | ||
| Capacity | 49,800 | ||
| Owner | ZESCO | ||
| Chairman | Richard Mulenga | ||
| Manager | George Lwandamina | ||
| League | Zambia Super League | ||
| 2023–24 | 2nd | ||
| Website | http://www.zescounitedfc.co.zm/ | ||
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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
[edit]ZESCO United was founded in 1974. They became the first Zambian club to qualify for the CAF African 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 this 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 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 African Champions League.[3]
The club also created history by being the first Zambian club to sign Asian players, with Kosuke Nakamachi from Japan.
Achievements
[edit]- 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
- Runner up : 2005, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023
- Zambian Cup: 1
- 2006
- Finalist : 2007
- 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2021
- ABSA Cup: 6
- 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019
- Finalist : 2021
- 2007
- 1980, 2003
Performance in CAF competitions
[edit]- CAF Champions League: 9 appearances
- CAF Confederation Cup: 6 appearances
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]As of 3 May 2021.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Zesco Utd embrace big bus theory". Lusaka Times. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- ^ "Africa: Success Story Coming From Zambian Club Zesco Utd in African Club Championship".
- ^ "Puncherello Chama gives his analysis of Zesco's win over Sundowns in the African Champions League semi-final 1st leg".
- ^ "A Malayan tiger in Zambia: 'My name is Marcel Kalonda, and I am Malaysian'". footballpink.net. 15 June 2020.
- ^ "FAM ends Marcel Kalonda links after documentation snag". goal.com.