ZESCO United F.C.
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| Full name | Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation United Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Team Ya Ziko, Zega Mambo, Zescolo | ||
| Founded | 1974 | ||
| Ground | Estadio de la Levy Mwanawasa (Levy Mwanawasa Stadium), Ndola, Northern Zambia | ||
| Capacity | 49,800 | ||
| Chairman | Kenneth Muteto | ||
| Manager | George Lwandamina | ||
| League | MTN/FAZ Super Division | ||
| 2014 | 1st | ||
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Zesco United is a Zambian football club based in Ndola that plays in the MTN/FAZ Super Division. Founded on January 1 1974, the club have spent most of their history in the top tier of Zambian football. The club's home ground is the 49,800-seat Estadio de la Levy Mwanawasa (Levy Mwanawasa Stadium) in Ndola, Northern Zambia, where they have played their home games since the ground was opened in 2012.
The club is wholly owned and sponsored by the state-owned electricity supplier ZESCO.[1]
Zesco United had their first major success in 1980, winning the old Zambian Division One. After a barren trophy-less spell, they added to that success in the late 2000s as they won another Zambian Division One title in 2003, the Zambian Premier League in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2014, the Barclays Cup in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2014, the Zambian Charity Shield in 2007 and 2011, the 2006 Mosi Cup, and the 2007 Zambian Coca Cola Cup.
History and Records
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 in continental football. Zesco 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.
Stadium
Main Article: Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
From the club's foundation until 2012, Zesco United played their home games at the Trade Fair Grounds. They now play at the Estadio de la Levy Mwanawasa (Levy Mwanawasa Stadium), which was officially opened on June 2, 2012. Designed by the Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co. Ltd, the Estadio de la Levy Mwanawasa is used mostly for football matches, and occasionally for athletics events.
The stadium was erected at a cost of US $65 million with a capacity slightly over 40,000. And for the first time, the local football body – FAZ – raked in over 500,000 dollars for a single match in a World Cup qualifier against Ghana in June 2012, which Zambia won 1-0.
Kelvin Mutafu, the FAZ treasurer, said from gate takings alone the body raked in about K2 billion. That is minus adding such revenue as broadcasting and commercial rights for the sell-out match.
On completion of the stadium, the Chinese construction company expressed delight, particularly with their co-operation with the football crazy southern African nation.
Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co. Ltd, the construction company, whose Ndola project was courtesy of China’s Commerce ministry and department of aid to foreign countries, completed their assignment within 26 months.
They credit the successful completion of the project to all parties including the local casual workers who contributed immeasurable hours of hard work to deliver a world-class structure.
Crest and Colors
Crest
Since the club's foundation, Zesco have had various crests, which all underwent minor variations.
Colors
Traditionally, Zesco have always worn orange home kits, with green and white as their away and third colors respectively.
Support
Zesco United are one of the most widely supported football clubs in the Africa. They have the highest average all-time attendance in Zambian football and regularly attract over 40,000 fans to the Estadio de la Levy Mwanawasa.
Rivalries
Zesco United's traditional rivalries are against fellow title contenders like Zanaco, Nkana, Power Dynamos, and NAPSA Stars.
Achievements
- 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014
- Barclays Cup: 4
- 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014
- Zambian Charity Shield: 2
- 2007, 2011
- Mosi Cup: 1
- 2006
- 2007
- 1980, 2003
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Champions League: 3 appearances
- 2008 - Last 32
- 2009 - Group Stage
- 2011 - Last 16
- CAF Confederation Cup: appearance
Players
Current squad
As of 25 March 2014.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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References
- ↑ "Zesco Utd embrace big bus theory". Lusaka Times. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2013-11-17.