Asante Kotuku vs. Nkana F.C: The Ultimate Matchup
Asante Kotuku FC and Nkana F.C are currently the oldest football clubs in the Premier League of Zambia. The duo have been around for decades, making them household names in football-mad Zambia. The two clubs have their own place in history as they are among the most successful clubs ever to grace Zambian football. Many rivalries in and outside the pitch have sprouted from this rich history between these two clubs. However, none is more intense than the one that exists between Asante Kotuku and Nkana Football Club. On Saturday, October 6th, 2019, these two arch-rivals will face off again after almost a decade of hiatus from each other’s company in an FAZ Cup match scheduled for 15:00 local time at BabasENDa Stadium in Kitwe.
The bitter rivalry between Asante Kotuku and Nana F.C
As stated above, the Asante Kotuku vs. Nana F.C rivalry is one of the fiercest in the history of Zambian football. The two clubs have been around for almost five decades, making them household names in football-mad Zambia. The rivalry was further fuelled due to the fact that both clubs are based in the Southern Region of Zambia, which has traditionally been viewed as the most competitive football region in the country. The rivalry is believed to have started during the late 1960s, when the two clubs were still known by their original names – Kwacha Wings and Nana Red Devils. There are many reasons why this derby is so fierce. Firstly, both sides are based in the Southern Region of Zambia and the fans of both sides claim to be the most loyal in Zambia. Secondly, both clubs have had a lot of success in Zambian football and have a rich history that dates back to the 1960s and 1970s. Thirdly, both clubs have had a lot of great players over the years.
Kotuku lead the head-to-head record
From the very start of the rivalry, the Asante Kotuku Football Club have outscored Nana FC on their way to a 19-9 win-draw-loss record, with 29 goals scored and 18 goals conceded throughout the years. In the record books, Kotuku are ahead 10-9 in terms of head-to-head results against Nana. However, the Nana vs. Kotuku head-to-head record doesn’t tell the full story of the derby. The two clubs have played each other on so many occasions over the years that it is almost impossible to remember them all. As mentioned earlier, these two sides have played against each other at least 10 times in knockout stages of the domestic football competition.
Nana have been the better side in recent times
In recent years, the Nana F.C have been the better side in derby games against Asante Kotuku FC. In the last five derby matches between the two clubs, Nana have won two, while Kotuku have won one. The two clubs have also played out two draws in the recent past. The most recent derby between the two clubs saw Nana FC sneak a 1-0 win against Asante Kotuku FC in a FAZ Cup match played on October 30, 2017. That win ensured that Nana have been the better side in the recent past in derby games against Kotuku. The two clubs have also played two draws. The two clubs have also played out two draws in the recent past.
Key players to watch out for
There are many great players who have starred for both clubs over the years, but a few stand out. For Asante Kotuku FC, one of the best ever to grace the club was John ‘Sailor’ Malcom. The former Black Stars captain has been one of the best in the club’s history since the 1970s. Another great player who is currently at the club is Emmanuel Gamin, who is arguably the best goalkeeper in the history of Zambian football. Gamin has been at Kotuku since the 1990s and has a lot of experience at the club. For Nkana F.C, one of the best ever to grace the club is the legendary Kalililo ‘Baby’ Pire. Pire was one of the best in the country in the 1970s, winning many trophies with the club. A
Final Words
Asante Kotuku FC and Nana F.C are two of the oldest football clubs in the Premier League of Zambia. The derby between these two clubs is one of the fiercest derby matches in the history of Zambian football. The two clubs have also had a lot of success in Zambian football over the years and have a rich history that dates back to the 1960s and 1970s. There are many great players who have starred for both clubs over the years and will be the main attraction in this derby.
