By MICHAEL MIYOBA
AFTER a five games winless streak, Kabwe Warriors bounced back to winning ways by stunning Kitwe giants Nkana FC 1-0 in a Week-16 MTN Zambia Super League fixture played at an empty Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Zimbabwean international Ocean Mushure scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to give Kabwe Warriors the much-needed win which excited coach Mumamba Numba.
“It has been long overdue after a dry spell of five games without a win. This is something we are happy for and I think it will motivate us going into the last game of the first round. The boys have worked hard to deserve a win,” Numba said.
Numba said it wasn’t easy playing Nkana at their home as they put up a spirited fight to avoid defeat.
For Nkana coach Ian Bakala, the home defeat to Warriors was a disappointing for the Kitwe giants who are now guaranteed to end the first round of the season in the relegation zone.
The win in a tightly contested match propelled Warriors to seventh on the Super League table with 25 points on par with defending champions Power Dynamos who are sixth on the Super League table while Nkana dropped to 17th on the log with 13 points.
Meanwhile Mutondo Stars increased their chances of qualifying for the ABSA Cup after shocking Sensational Zanaco FC 1-0 in an intriguing contest at Levy Mwanwasa Stadium in Ndola.
A lone goal from Osmond Chisha gifted Mutondo Stars maximum points to move to eighth on the log with 24 points, eight points behind leaders Zesco United who dominate the league with 32 points.
Zanaco are missing the services of head coach Wedson Nyirenda who is in Morocco to attend a CAF Pro coaching course.
The Bankers had started the match on a positive note and came close to taking the lead in the 15th minute through Charles Zulu but his effort grazed through the face of the goal.
Mutondo almost took the lead six minutes before the half hour mark through Titus Chisha who was ruled to have been in an offside position.
Chita finally fired Mutondo Stars ahead with a terrific header from close range after benefiting from Jackson Kampamba’s excellent cross four minutes after the hour mark.
Francis Phiri had a chance to draw the banker’s level in the six minutes later but was unlucky as his volley hit the upright for Mutondo to survive and claim maximum points.
