The 2021 ABSA Cup takes off this afternoon with top of the bill clashes that will see 2020 league runners up Forest Rangers take on Eden University National Division One pace setters Konkola Blades.

Despite plying their trade in the lower league, Konkola Blades walk into this fixture with a notable experience in the ABSA Cup where they have participated five times including a final appearance in 2011 where they lost 2-1 to Power Dynamos.

The team affectionately named ‘Sharp Razor’ were semi-finalists in 2007 and 2014 while a 2012 and 2016 appearance ended in a quarterfinal berth.

However, a Forest Rangers tutored Tenant Chilumba will go into this fixture with an edge based on their rise in the Zambian game.

Forest Rangers also come with some measure of ABSA Cup credentials having participated in the 2008 edition while they were unlucky that the 2020 edition was cancelled owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Forest Rangers versus Konkola Blades match will be a lunchtime kickoff today (Saturday) at Woodlands Stadium at 13:00 hours.

In the second match record winners Zesco United will take on the Beston Chambeshi coached Kansanshi Dynamos.

Defending champions Zesco United have won the ABSA Cup a record six times and have hit a ricj vein of form in the league that has seen them record seven consecutive wins.

Mumamba Numba will be looking to replicate that resurgence in form while Kansanshi Dynamos have the experience of Beston ‘Quicksilver’ Chambeshi to rely on.

Kansanshi Dynamos will be carrying the pride of the Eden University National Division One in the ABSA Cup.

Winners of the two matches will qualify to the semi-finals that are set for the Copperbelt at Arthur Davies Stadium.

ABSA Bank has put K3.8 million in the 2021 edition of the cup with the winners pocketing K600, 000.

NOTE: No fans will be allowed in the stands arising from a ban by the Ministry of Health that is still in effect. The games will be live on SuperSport.