A few eyebrows were raised when striker Alex Ng’onga was allowed to leave his boyhood club Power Dynamos for arch-rivals Nkana at no cost at all.
Granted, Ng’onga did not have the best of relationships with coach Perry Mutapa, but the player was highly revered by Power fans and a number of executive committee members.
For Mutapa, Ng’onga’s reputation at Power was not enough to have him walk straight into the first team. He had to earn his place. Or did he?
Egos clashed, and afterwards it was a game of thrones which saw Mutapa emerging winner – at least for now.
The player, whom the fans refer to as ‘King Bazo’, never tickled Mutapa’s fancy, thus there were no surprises that the coach did not object to Ng’onga’s wish to terminate his contract with the six- time league champions.
His exit from Power was catalysed by the fall-out and a lack of game time after failing in the pecking order to Dave Daka and Kennedy Musonda.
Even at their lowest ebb in the season, Mutapa never saw N’gonga as the player who could carry the team’s striking duties in their bid to finish in the top four.
His former coach Mwenya Chipepe described the departure gain for Nkana and loss for Power.
“I don’t want to comment about Power Dynamos,” Chipepo said as he went on to comment “I will comment about my boy Alex. Players like Alex as a coach you must know how to handle them. You must know how this player is sometimes he can make a mistake but you cannot throw him away.
“He is a son of Power Dynamos. if he gains full fitness at Nkana, how is he going to be playing? he is national team material, so for Power Dynamos, it is a huge loss and a double gain for Nkana,” Chipepo said.
It is now 17 days since N’gonga left joinded Nkana, and today he will visit his boyhood club with the aim to prove a point to Mutapa in the Kitwe derby.
Never one to grant interviews, N’gonga has been quiet over his intentions for the match but those close to him say the player has a burning desire to play his best game for Nkana.
So far, he has played three games, scoring one goal and missing one penalty.
Despite lacking match fitness, he has not been overly bad in the matches that he has played for Nkana and was close to scoring in the 2 – all draw against Nkwazi but his neat header grazed the upright.
Having been overlooked for the derby when Power beat Nkana 3 – 0 earlier in the season in Wusakile – when he was still donning the yellow shirt – the player will relish his chances in the scarlet shirt.
Power have not been at their best in the last season five games where they have failed to win a match.
This match could just be the perfect time for N’gonga to have the last laugh, but Muapata is equally eager to vindicate himself over the player.
Elsewhere in the league, Prison Leopards host struggling Napsa Stars in Kabwe.
Chipepo’s Indeni host Young Green Eagles while Lumwana Radiants are in the capital city with a date against resurgent Green Buffaloes.
Buffaloes have won to the last three matches.
FAZ/MTN SUPER LEAGUE WEEK 29
SUNDAY 9TH MAY, 2021
15:00hours Power Dynamos Vs Nkana | Arthur Davies Stadium | Live on Supersport 229 Variety 4
15:00hours Indeni Vs Young Green Eagles | Indeni Sports Complex
15:00hours Green Eagles Vs Lusaka Dynamos | Independence Stadium
15:00hours Green Buffaloes Vs Lumwana Radiants | Nkoloma Stadium
14:00hours Prison Leopards Vs NAPSA Stars | President Stadium
