Warriors stab Rangers

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 11:39:28 +0000

By Wilson Pondamali

MAGNIFICENT Kabwe Warriors put up a spirited fight to come from behind and edge visiting ‘Brave’ Nchanga Rangers 3-2 in a FAZ/MTN Premier league week 34 match played before a paltry crowd disturbed by on and off rains.

The game recorded a first half brace on both sides by Godfrey Ngwenya and Terry Mwanshi for Warriors and Rangers respectively.

Rangers took an early lead in the 35th minute when towering striker Shabby Mwaba managed to evade Warriors’ Congolese towering defender Marcel Kalonda before releasing Mwanshi who curled the ball into the net completely beating goal minder Lawrence Mulenga.

The Rangers celebration was short-lived as Warriors responded with Godfrey Ngwenya’s first of the day barely in the 38th minute.

Nchanga took a lead again in the 40th minute when Mwanshi chanced a volley which eluded goalie Mulenga who mistook it for a ball going over the bar.

The game was contentious and kept coaches on both sides busy shouting instructions to their charges and again just before the end of the second half in added time Godfrey Ngwenya came and rescued the railway sponsored side and equalized.

Warriors could have gone to the showers with a lead had Lameck Kafwaya not messed up a corner kick well executed by Jacob Phiri.

Both teams made urgent changes at half time to try and introduce fresh legs.

Rangers coach Bruce Mwape introduced Harrison Kaonga for Sam Sichinga while his counterpart Chintu Kampamba brought in Joseph Chanda for Lameck Kafwaya.   Kampamba played an unusual formation of 3-5-2 compacting the midfield where most balls where won while Mwape’s formation concentrated on defence and attack. In the 53rd minute, still trying to sharpen his frontline Kampamba brought in skilled dribbler Mwansa Nsofwa for the injured dimunitive striker Paul Simpemba and the substitution paid dividends as Nsofwa made an immediate impact and scored eight minutes later after an excellent build up from Kalonda and pass from Godfrey Ngwenya.

Rangers who survived board room demotion for allegedly attempting to bribe a referee were once again in disciplinary spotlight when twice the players protested the referee’s decisions and were unlucky as Kitwe referee Milton Mweemba sent Rangers striker Shabby Mwaba off the pitch. In post match interviews, both coaches praised their charges for the results.

Evans Sakala said his boys played an impressive game but regretted the silly goals conceded otherwise they could have claimed three points while Kampamba congratulated his boys for the sweet victory in the season closing game especially that the team was coming from division one.