MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
@SunZambian
NKANA Football Club yesterday won the bragging rights in the fierce rivalry between them and Confederation group stage opponents Zesco United whom they again face in another match slated for next weekend.
Zesco opened the scores in the 2nd minute through former under 20 international, Maybin Kalengo, who played alongside his veteran uncle, Winstone Kalengo.
But Nkana returned back in the match immediately after halftime, with a Ronald “Sate Sate” Kampamba equalizing in the 46th minute after a breakdown between Zesco defenders.
Nkana could have won the match in regulation time but striker, Festus Mbewe, hit the cross bar with only the goal keeper to beat. With the game into penalties, it was Nkana’s Misheck Chaila, who missed the fourth penalty hence gifting Nkana its 17th charity shield, after former Zesco United player Ben Adama Ba scored the winning penalty.
Nkana beat Zesco 5 goals to 4. Meanwhile, man-of-the-match Nkana’s Musa Mohammed, described the game as good preparation for the CAF Confederation Cup’s first game against ZESCO next weekend.
“Its part of preparation for the coming match. We know each other and we will now focus on the next match,” he said.
And Zesco United coach George Lwandamina described the game worth the charity shield, though he blamed their loss on fatigue and lack of rest.
“Pre -season was not done in good faith, they (players) don’t have the much desired fitness,” he said.
And Nkana’s assistant coach, Manfred Chabinga, said his technical bench was happy with the team’s performance and would only make very few changes in readiness for next weekend’s game.
He disclosed that his team would also work on sharpening the strikers he said have lately exhibited as being blunt.
“We shall recruit one striker and make a few changes,” he said adding that, “We have gained experience and we expect to go far in the Confederation Cup.”
