Week 19 of the ZPL National League produced another round of decisive results as the promotion race continued to take shape and the relegation battle intensified. Leaders Makeni All Stars remained firmly in control at the summit, while Kafue Celtic, Roan United and Trident all recorded important results to keep themselves in the promotion conversation.
Trident 2–1 Chirundu United
Trident boosted their promotion hopes after securing a crucial 2–1 victory over Chirundu United in a tightly contested encounter. The hosts started brightly and were rewarded when Nicholas Chipoya opened the scoring, before Jackson Silwimba doubled Trident’s advantage to put them in a strong position.
Chirundu United responded in the second half through Joseph Chilimina, but Trident defended resolutely to hold on for maximum points. The victory moved Trident to 33 points after 19 matches, keeping them in fourth position, while Chirundu United remained fifth on the same number of points.
Forest Rangers 3–0 Indeni
Forest Rangers delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend with a convincing 3–0 win over Indeni to stay within touching distance of the promotion places. Idriss Kisha broke the deadlock before further goals from Saviour Kunda and Progress Malama sealed a comprehensive victory.
The result lifted Forest Rangers to 32 points, leaving them just one point outside the top four. Indeni, meanwhile, stayed ninth on 23 points as their inconsistency continued to stall progress up the table.
Kitwe United 1–2 Makeni All Stars
League leaders Makeni All Stars showed their resilience with a hard-fought 2–1 away win against Kitwe United to maintain their position at the top of the table. Kitwe United took the lead through Mordecai Kabwenga, but Makeni All Stars responded with goals from Elijah Muntanga and Mike Msukuma to turn the game in their favour.
The victory extended Makeni All Stars’ lead at the summit to 42 points after 19 matches, further strengthening their promotion credentials. Kitwe United remained 11th on 20 points after failing to capitalise on home advantage.
Jumulo 1–0 Chambishi
Jumulo claimed a vital 1–0 win over Chambishi in a match that could prove significant in the relegation battle. Binotynho Musonda scored the only goal of the game, earning Jumulo three important points.
The win moved Jumulo to 18 points and into 14th place, offering renewed hope of survival. Chambishi stayed 12th on 19 points after missing an opportunity to create breathing space above the drop zone.
Riverplate 0–1 Locus FC
Locus FC picked up a crucial away victory after edging Riverplate 1–0 to boost their survival hopes. Daniel Phiri scored the decisive goal to hand Locus FC all three points in a tense encounter.
The result lifted Locus FC to 17 points and into 16th position, while Riverplate remained bottom of the table on 13 points as relegation fears deepened.
Kafue Celtic 1–0 Lumwana Radiants
Kafue Celtic continued their impressive season with a narrow 1–0 victory over Lumwana Radiants to keep the pressure on the league leaders. Mulenga Chiluba’s goal proved decisive as Celtic collected another important win.
The result saw Kafue Celtic remain second on 36 points, firmly in the promotion mix. Lumwana Radiants stayed seventh on 29 points, losing further ground in the race for a top-four finish.
Chipata City Council 2–2 Ndola United
Chipata City Council and Ndola United shared the points following a 2–2 draw in a lively contest. Thomas Mbewe and Jarios Saka found the net for the hosts, while Victor Katambo and Martin Kangwa scored for Ndola United.
Both sides remain locked in the relegation battle, with Chipata City Council moving to 19 points in 13th place and Ndola United sitting 15th on 18 points.
Atletico Lusaka 1–1 Roan United
Roan United were held to a 1–1 draw away to Atletico Lusaka, dropping points in their pursuit of automatic promotion. Atletico Lusaka took the lead through Edmond Lungu Banda before an own goal by Abel Kanyammuna brought Roan United level.
Roan United stayed third on 34 points, while Atletico Lusaka remained 10th on 20 points after another mixed performance.
Mpulungu Harbour vs Aguila Stars
The fixture between Mpulungu Harbour and Aguila Stars was postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date. Mpulungu Harbour remain 17th on 14 points, while Aguila Stars sit eighth on 26 points.
Conclusion
As the ZPL National League season enters a critical stage, Makeni All Stars continue to set the pace at the top while the battle for promotion remains fiercely contested. At the other end of the table, several teams remain separated by only a few points, ensuring the relegation fight will remain intense in the coming weeks.
