FAZ Super League: Forest Rangers, Zanaco Game Called Off

Authorities cancelled one of the MTN/FAZ Super League biggest matches less than two hours before kick-off on Saturday after 28 members of one side tested positive for Covid-19.

The Zambia league rolled back into action this afternoon at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium where table-toppers Forest Rangers were scheduled to host Zanaco.

The match was due to kickoff at 1500 hours moments after opening fixture between National Division outfit Kitwe United and Police College, but was cancelled on the orders of the state’s Health Secretariat.

“Game between Zanaco and Forest Rangers put off on the recommendation of the Ndola Public Health Office,” Football Association of Zambia(FAZ) said in a short statement.

Forest Rangers had stated that 28 of their staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus ahead the tie against Zanaco.

FAZ did not comment on the report but Zanaco FC General Manager Marlon Kananda told the club media that the match was called off because their opponents had 17 players testing positive of novel coronavirus.

However, Kananda insisted that the league management board should do the ‘right’ thing and award Zanaco the match as Rangers failed to communicate on time.

“We have told FAZ that we won’t play Forest, to us this is a win and we should now start focusing on playing Nkana on Wednesday,” Kananda said.

“As far as am concerned we have three points and three goals.”

FAZ had made it mandatory for players and other essential team officials to undergo Covid-19 tests.

So far there have been 2,810 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease in the southern Africa nation and 109 fatalities.