2019 Zambia Super League Explained

Competition:Zambia Super League
Season:2019
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup2:Confederation Cup
League Topscorer:Laudit Mavugo
Austin Muwowo
Zikuru Adams (10 goals each)
Biggest Home Win:Zanaco 4-1 Red Arrows
(27 January 2019)
Biggest Away Win:Lusaka Dynamos 2-5 Zanaco
3 February 2019
Highest Scoring:Lusaka Dynamos 2-5 Zanaco
3 February 2019
Zanaco 4-1 Red Arrows
(27 January 2019)[1]
Matches:28
Total Goals:58
Longest Wins:3 matches
Zanaco
Longest Winless:3 matches
Kitwe United
Longest Losses:3 matches
Kitwe United
Prevseason:2018
Nextseason:2019–20
Updated:11 February 2019

The 2019 Zambia Super League is the 58th season of the Zambia Super League, the top-tier football league in Zambia. Due to the transitional calendar of the CAF competitions in 2018–19, the 20 teams in the league will be divided into two groups of ten teams stream A and stream B, one of teams from the north and one of teams from the south,[2] Nkana leading one and Zesco United heading the other.[3] The teams top two with the most points will qualify for the CAF Champions League then the other two will play the CAF Confederations Cup. The League will return to normal for the 2019–20 season. The league is set to kick off on 27 January, A day after the Charity Shield.[4]

Teams

The season will be contested by 20 teams in two groups, the 16 teams which qualified from the 2018 Zambia Super League and four promoted clubs. After the season, only 18 teams will remain in the Super League.[5] The promoted clubs include Circuit City (debut),[6] Mufulira Wanderers (returning after one season), Real Nakonde (returning after one season)[7] and Manchester United Zambia Academy.[8] National Assembly, Nchanga Rangers, Kabwe YSA and New Monze Swallows were relegated from the 2018 Zambia Super League.

Confirmed promoted teams

Prison Leopards' promotion

Prison Leopards got promoted to the Super League weeks after the 2018 Division One season came to an end which resulted that Real Nakonde be demoted back to Division one the team that was confirmed to have won promotion earlier at the end of the season with a better goal difference but finished level on points with Prison Leopards. Leopards launched complained against their opponents Tazara Express from matchweek 23 to have ineligible players.[9] The match was forfeited and three points plus a three nil scoreline was awarded to Prison Leopards. Tazara Express was hence fined K5000.[10]

League restructuring

The Super League will adopt a new format starting in August 2019. At the end of the transitional season in June the Super League will have a reduced number to 18 as the Association looks to increase competitiveness.

The start of a new league season in August 2019 will also see the start of the National Division One which will have 18 teams just like the top tier and will be a sponsored league. The two bottom teams from each zone of the transitional Super League will be relegated to the National Division One.

For promotion to the Super League after the end of the transitional season in June the four top teams from the zones will face each other in playoffs with the two winners (top teams) qualifying to the Super League while the other two will drop to the National Division one.

The National Division One will have six teams at this point. To make the total number of teams reach 18 the teams that will finish from 2nd to fourth in each zone will be promoted to the National Division one to make it 18 teams.[11]

League tables

In this transitional season, it will be played in two streams A and B. The Stream winners will play-off for the title, the Stream runners-up qualify for CAF Confederation Cup, two clubs will be relegated from each stream while only two clubs will be promoted as the top-level league is reduced to 18 clubs for 2020 season.[12]

Stream A

Stream B

Results

Stream B

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[13]
1 Laudit MavugoNapsa Stars10
Austin MuwowoForest Rangers
Zikuru AdamsForest Rangers
4 Chrispine MugaluLusaka Dynamos9
5 Rodger KolaZanaco8
Rusike TafadzwaZanaco
Jesse WereZesco Utd
Lazarous KamboleZesco Utd

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Hamanyuma . Osward . RIOT ZANACO SENDS CHAMPIONSHIP MESSAGE . 28 January 2019 . Zambian Football . January 28, 2019 .
  2. Web site: 2019 ZAMBIA SUPER LEAGUE TO START IN JANUARY . 2018-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190424061521/http://zambianfootball.co.zm/2019-zambia-super-league-to-start-in-january/zfadmin/ . 2019-04-24 . dead .
  3. Web site: 2019 ZSL: Long awaited fixtures finally out. Futaa. www.futaa.com. 2019-01-18.
  4. Web site: Charity shield gate charges announced. Futaa. www.futaa.com. 2019-01-18.
  5. Web site: Climate to affect 2019 League Games. Daily Nation. 19 November 2018. Michael. Miyoba. 26 December 2018. 27 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181227040646/https://www.dailynation.info/climate-to-affect-2019-league-games/. dead.
  6. Web site: Circuit City seal FAZ Super Division Promotion. 30 October 2018 .
  7. Web site: Real return to topflight. Zambia Daily Mail. 26 November 2018. Lupiya. Mulwanda.
  8. Web site: Manchester United Zambia to stay in Mazabuka ZamFoot. zambianfootball.co.zm. 2018-12-28. 2018-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20181228130819/http://zambianfootball.co.zm/manchester-united-zambia-to-stay-in-mazabuka/zfadmin/. dead.
  9. News: Mbewe . Prisons Leopards Get Promoted After FAZ Ruling, Real Nakonde remain in zones. . 2 January 2019 . Zambian Football . zambianfootball.news . 29 December 2018 . 2 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190102193413/http://www.zambianfootball.news/headlines/prisons-leopards-get-promoted-after-faz-ruling-real-nakonde-remains-in-zones/ . dead .
  10. News: MUBANGA . AARON . Prison Leopards win promotion to Super League weeks after end of Season . 2 January 2019 . futaa.com . 30 December 2018.
  11. Web site: Zambia Football Current League Tables. Football League Tables Results & Statistics. en. 2019-09-13.
  12. Web site: 2019 tables . Rsssf.com . 22 February 2019.
  13. Web site: TOP SCORERS . zambianfootball.co.zm . September 10, 2019 . August 30, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190830153306/http://zambianfootball.co.zm/mavugo-muwowo-zikuru-end-season-as-top-scorers/zfadmin/ . dead .