Zesco United’s title chase hit a bump after a goalless draw by bottom-placed Indeni FC in the Ndola Derby at Indeni Complex on Saturday.

Speaking after the match, Zesco United interim coach Emmanuel Siwale admitted the game was tough, given the derby atmosphere.

“Yes, we have dropped points, but this was a derby, and you know what derbies can do. Like I said, this was not going to be easy; you saw how the game went—it was tough. Even then, we had scoring opportunities, especially in the first half, that we could have utilized.“

The dropped points leave Zesco United at 47 points. A win by any margin for second-placed Kabwe Warriors on Sunday, who play Green Buffaloes in Lusaka, would see Zesco drop to second place on goal difference.

Despite this, Siwale remained content with the point, describing the title race as a journey

“This is what we got—a point—and it’s still a journey that we are walking, so we just have to get what we have. But I know we wanted the three points.“

Siwale refrained from pinpointing specific shortcomings in the match, emphasizing his team’s readiness despite missed opportunities.

“It’s not about what we did not do; we were up to the task. It’s only that, like I have said, we did not convert the many chances that we had“

He also dismissed concerns that the result would impact the team’s title ambitions, focusing instead on their own performance

“Ours is to concentrate on what we are doing. I know we have dropped points. We still want to be there on top.”

With the match held at Indeni’s home ground and not at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Siwale refused to blame the pitch for the draw:

“No, we can play anywhere; this is football, and this is what we had. It’s not an excuse because, on the same pitch, we created chances we could have scored. Had we scored, it was going to be a different story.”