MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
@SunZambian
TWO-TIME League champions Nchanga Rangers’ supporters have attributed the club’s failure to secure a place in the National Division One League to inadequate support from Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) which is the sponsor.
Supporters’ Society chairperson Jonah Mpande said the people of Chingola and Rangers supporters were disappointed with the team’s failure to qualify to the National First Division.
Mphande said the team tried its best despite poor sponsorship and that the supporters attributed the club’s failure to lack of support from the sponsor.
He said KCM had not done much in meeting its obligations to the team such as logistics and paying of players’ salaries.
“We all blame it on our sponsors because they’re not doing much in terms of logistics and paying of logistics for the players,” he said.
“But it’s a very disappointing turn of events for team like Nchanga Rangers to play in the second division.”
Mphande said it would take time for the club to bounce back in the first division and later on the super league in its current form.
He said the only way to reclaim its past glory was to have a serious and committed sponsor.
Mphande said Rangers’ woes pointed to lack of motivation among players.
He urged his fellow fans to continue rallying behind the team even as it played in the lower league.
Nchanga Rangers’ one nil loss away to Ndola United last Wednesday followed by their derby draw against townmates Chiwempala Leopards in Sunday’s week 29 game confirmed the Chingola side’s demotion to the provincial league.
Rangers are two-time Zambia league champions having won it in 1980 and 1999 and have since gone on to represent the country in CAF competitions with the last participation being in 2011 were they went as far as the second round of the Confederations Cup.
