NKANA LOST IN FOREST
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
NKANA coach Kelvin Kaindu was left frustrated as the defending champions woes in the MTN/FAZ Super Division continued after Forest Rangers completed a double on the Kitwe giants following a 2-1 beating in a rescheduled Week-18 fixture played yesterday at Nkana Stadium in Lusaka.
The loss ensured that the defending champions maintained 16th position on the Super Division table as the battle to survive relegation continues.
First half goals from Daily Echabe and Thomas Chiedu gifted Forest Rangers as they bounced back from last Sunday’s defeat to Buildcon in a Ndola derby.
Echabe gave Forest the lead 13 minutes after kick off as he rose high to head in Lameck Silwaba’s cross before Emmanuel Mwiinde equalised five minutes later.
Left back Taonga Bwembya almost restored Forest’s lead but was unlucky to see his free kick going slightly wide in the 23rd minute.
Chideu finally put Forest ahead on the half hour mark, beating Zimbabwean goal keeper Tanunurwa Shumba with a screamer which left him feeling disappointed.
Nkana went on to dominate the first quarter of the second half but could not break Forest’s backline which was not ready to make a similar mistake made in the first half when Mwinde got the equaliser for the Kitwe giants.
Nkana came close to getting the equaliser in the dying minutes of the second half when Rufin Djeni missed right at the mouth of the goal as Forest survived to complete a double on Nkana having beaten them 2-0 early in the season opener at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The loss left Kaindu feeling emotional as he could not understand the behaviour of some of his players who he felt could have done better.
“I honestly don’t even have words. I may say things which may not be good at the end of the day but we are lacking the character and this is affecting us in the local league.
Nkana’s next match will be played on Sunday against Tanzanian outfit, Namungo FC in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Meanwhile, Forest Rangers coach Tenant Chilumba commended his players for the victory.