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Kenyan trio fires Zambian club to victory


Harambee Stars midfielder Anthony “Viera” Akumu says he “enjoyed” Zesco’s victory in a CAF Champions League fixture against Guinean club Horoya.

Akumu played the full 90 minutes in the high stakes clash in which the Zambian champions emerged comfortable 4-1 winners at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Also part of Zesco’s set up in the clash was Kenyan defender David “Calabar” Owino and striker Jesse Were who scored one of the four goals.

“Horoya is a complete team with good players. What made us get this result was our approach and concentration. I thoroughly enjoyed this game,” Akumu formerly of Gor Mahia and Al Khartoum told Nairobi News.

This result leaves Zesco on the brink of qualification to the second round of the competition and one stage away from the money spinning group stage.

“Playing in the group stage is our biggest target this year,” Akumu confirmed.

Coach George Lwandamina’s charges will eliminate the West Africans if they can garner a draw or even a loss by two clear goals in the return leg match.

Were, who was lured to Zesco’s Ndola base in January after emerging top scorer in last season’s Kenyan Premier League, scored his team’s second goal  from a sweeping move that included an assist from strike partner Congolese youngster Idriss Bombo.

Bombo, who scored the first goal of the match, almost assisted the lanky Were with his second goal on the stroke of halftime. The striker’s shot came off the upright.

This was Were’s first competitive goal for Zesco in three games, although the former Tusker FC and Mathare United forward has scored seven times in four pre-season games.

“Congratulations to him (Were). He seems to have settled in fast at Zesco which is a big club with continental ambition. We will need his experience against Guinea Bissau later this month,” Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi reacted.

The two teams will face off in the return leg match in Conakry on March 20.