By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Nkana FC head coach Elijah Tana has expressed satisfaction with his side’s performance after the 13-time Zambian champions fought back from a goal down to thrash newly promoted Makeni All Stars 4-1 in their opening home fixture of the 2026 MTN Super League Transitional Season.
The Kitwe giants recovered from an early setback to claim their second consecutive victory, moving to the top of Stream A with six points from two matches.
Emmanuel Silomba gave Makeni All Stars an eighth-minute lead, threatening to spoil Nkana’s homecoming, but Michael Chapota restored parity in the 45th minute before Lazarus Kambole put the hosts ahead just before half-time.
Kambole completed his brace in the 79th minute, while Nduna Zulu added a fourth three minutes later to cap a dominant second-half display.
Speaking after the match, Tana said he was pleased with the result, although he acknowledged that his side had to work hard to overcome a determined Makeni All Stars outfit.
“You know, it’s a plan. We planned for it. So we’ll continue planning for each game,” Tana said.
The Nkana coach admitted that the visitors had made life difficult for his side in the first half, praising their ability to frustrate the hosts before they eventually found their rhythm.
“I’m happy. You know, it was a tough game. You saw the way they played in the first half. These guys, they can frustrate you the way they did,” he said.
Tana revealed that he urged his players to remain calm and trust the process, a message that paid dividends as Nkana turned the contest around with four goals.
“So I told my boys to calm down. Then we scored, and we scored again. That’s what we planned for,” he added.
The victory leaves Nkana top of Stream A with maximum points from their opening two matches, while Makeni All Stars sit eighth after suffering their first defeat of the campaign.
With a demanding schedule ahead, Tana said recovery would be crucial as his side prepare for consecutive fixtures in midweek and at the weekend.
The Nkana coach explained that the team would take a break before beginning recovery work on Monday to ensure the players are ready for their next assignment.
Tana also paid tribute to the supporters for their vocal backing, which provided an important lift for the home side.
“I’m happy the way they supported us,” he said.
Nkana will now travel to Lusaka to face NAPSA Stars on Wednesday, October 14, as they look to extend their winning start and consolidate their position at the top of Stream A.
