Benard Chama – Chingola
Record league champions Nkana FC highlighted their poor start to the season with a 1 – 0 loss to less fancied Nchanga Rangers in Chingola.
With star striker and 2016 league top scorer serving his first of the three match ban, it looked like Nkana would have enough resources to step in to film the gap with Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba and Bonwell Mwape part of the team.
Recovering from their 3 nil defeat at the hands of Napsa stars, Rangers took matters in their own hands making their intentions known with clever exchange of passes in the midfield.
Bwalya Kasonde was looking threatening coming through both the left and right wings but it was their top man that made little of the plays failing to go passed Donashano Malama.
On the other end Ronald Sate Sate Kampamba had it personal with enterprising Isaac Shimujopa whose tackle in the 18 yard box saved Nchanga from conceding early in the game.
With pressure mounting from the Nkana fans on both the players and the coach, the first half’s end came as a relief for the visitors.
Shamujopa was leading from the back and in the 63rd minute, his long throw in was only partially cleared by Charles Sinyangwe and the resultant ball fell to skipper Kasonde who controlled well in congested box to pick his spot beyond the reach of Nkana goalie Mapulanga.
Nkana responded by bringing on Bonwell Mwape whose partnership with Sate Sate showed some impact.
But the Nchanga backline ‘never concede’ altitude that ensured the score line remained the same.
Without a win in two games following a draw against Nakambala who would have been playing in the second tier had it not been for the restructuring of the league, Nkana’s new coach will be filling the pressure as early as week two.
Nkana have a tricky fixture list ahead that will see them play Napsa Stars at home before playing away against Zesco United.
They will then play Green Buffaloes at home.
Nchanga Rangers XI v Nkana
30.Pascal kasonde 3.Gift sikaonga 2.Jimmy Nakena 15.Benson Nzuma 18.Isaac samujopa 12.Benson kolala 10.Bwalya kasonde 14. Martin Njobvu 17. Samson Mubanga 18.Gift Phiri 7.Emmanuel Mwaba
Nkana XI
Kelvin Malunga, Donashano Malama, Charles Sinyangwe, Aaron Katebe, Diego Apà nane, Lackson Bwalya, Aubrey Chamulwanda, Jacob Ngulube, Austin Muwowo, Ronald Kampamba, Simon Bwalya
sailet must be shown the door,i forsee a situatiion were nkana will go 4 games without a win..we are in limbo as far as the issue of collecting points is conceind,i can describe the situation at nkana coaching bench as a quagmire,and if this issue is left unattend to i forsee a situation called industrial cornadrium which can cause industrial dicotomy which can result into industrial pardamonium…….let the coaching do their basics and start grinding results or may b appoint an expatriate trainer
Shamujompa has just made the race for the best defender interesting. I will see how he will stand against the likes of ziyo at the end of the season. So far donoshano achepa!
A bit too early to start passing judgement, although its always good to nip the problem before it blossoms. Hope our Walya, njanji ni njanji will wake up today.