By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Nkana coach Elijah Tana has warned his players against complacency as the 13-time Zambian champions look to maintain their perfect start to the 2026 Transitional League when they host Nchanga Rangers today.
The Kitwe giants welcome the Chingola-based side to Nkana Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00, as they seek a third consecutive victory.
Nkana have collected maximum points from their opening two matches, beating Trident 1-0 before recording an emphatic 4-1 victory over newly promoted Makeni All Stars.
The results have lifted Nkana to the top of Stream A with six points, but Tana insists his side must maintain its work ethic ahead of what he expects to be a difficult encounter.
“As usual, we have prepared well. The boys are responding well. Going against Nchanga, it’s a do-or-die game, so I have told my boys to maintain the same approach they showed in the last game,” Tana said.
Despite Nkana’s impressive start, the coach has cautioned his players against easing off, stressing the need for continued hard work as they seek to sustain their momentum.
“We have started well, and we shouldn’t relax. We should continue working hard. The team coming has lost two consecutive games, so it will be tough,” he added.
Nchanga Rangers arrive in Kitwe under pressure to get their campaign up and running after suffering back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Zanaco and defending champions Power Dynamos.
The Chingola outfit sit at the bottom of Stream A without a point and will be eager to halt their losing run against an Nkana side brimming with confidence.
However, the head-to-head record suggests the visitors could prove difficult opponents. The last 10 meetings between the sides have produced three wins for each team and four draws.
With another home victory in their sights, Tana has also called on Nkana supporters to turn out in numbers and rally behind the team.
“They should just come and cheer the team,” he said.
Nkana will be looking to strengthen their grip on top spot in Stream A, while Nchanga Rangers seek their first points of the campaign when the two sides meet in Kitwe this afternoon.
