The Super League is getting heated up with teams looking to take an early lead on the log standings. Unlike any other match day, this weekend saw a different complexion of the Zambian game with massive upsets recorded.
1. Nchanga Rangers Lead, Others Follow
Straight from National Division One, the Brave Nchanga Rangers are proving to be a good side for the Super League. The Chingola-based side recorded its third win of the season, the most for any team as of Week 4. Thomas Banda’s lone goal was enough for Rangers to beat Chambishi Football Club at Arthur Davies Stadium.
The Robert Tembo drilled side took their point tally to 10 points while bottom-placed Chambishi is still winless in four (4) Super League matches. Chambishi’s last win in the Super League was a 1-0 win on 16 April 2022 against Nkwazi in Lusaka.
2.Kansanshi Dynamos, Napsa Stars finally win
Kansanshi Dynamos’ winless streak came to a close when newly recruited midfielder Gerald Chisha found the back of the net in the 90th minute to ensure all three points remained with the Solwezi side.
The Mabanga Boys, powered by Bolabet beat struggling Nkwazi by 1-0 and provided a perfect response from a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of defending champions Red Arrows in a Week 3 encounter.
The Police Service-sponsored side is still winless with just one draw and are yet to score a goal this season! Tough at Edwin Imboela Stadium.
How’s Dennis Mankinka even managing to find sleep if at all he is?
Meanwhile, Napsa Stars came from behind to beat Green Eagles FC 2-1. Jimmy Mukeya and Austin Banda’s goals were the difference as Napsa picked their first three points of the season while Green Eagles were handed a second defeat of the season.
Ironically, Aggrey Chiyangi’s side have lost on the two occasions they have taken the lead and allowed the opponents to equalize; 3-1 against Lumwana Radiants in Week 1 and 2-1 against Napsa Stars in a Week 4 encounter.
3. Clinical Lubinda Mundia braces Leopards to a win
Zambia Correctional Service side, Prison Leopards Football Club picked their second win of the season thanks to a Lubinda Mundia brace against Buildcon Football Club in a 2-1 win on Sunday.
The Kabwe-based side came from a goal down to win 2-1, as former Buildcon FC striker Mundia quickly turned around the match for the visitors with goals in the 62nd and 69th minutes
On individual performances, Mundia was the only player to score a brace in Week 4 of the Super League and move top of the scorers’ chart with 3 goals.
Prison Leopards are sitting in the second position with 8 points from four (4) matches while Team Kopala is still winless so far with just a draw to their credit.
4.Zesco United wins second Super League match in a row as Green Buffaloes go third
Green Buffaloes waited for the 82nd minute to record a 1-nil win over Nkana Football Club at the fully packed Edwin Imboela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In a game of halves, Green Buffaloes dominated the first half with some chances going begging while Nkana took charge of the second half with substitute Alex ‘Bazo’ Ngo’nga involved in most of the chances created by the Kitwe-based side.
However, George Ngoma’s header from a well-delivered cross by Robin Siame, separated the two sides as Nkana slipped to a second defeat of the season. Green Buffaloes are still undefeated with 2 wins and 2 draws.
In Ndola, Zesco United recorded their first home win as Collins Sikombe and Enock Sakala scored in the 52nd and 58th minutes respectively for the Numba Mumamba drilled Team Ya Ziko, that recorded a 2-1 win over Lumwana Radiants.
Lumwana Radiants recorded a second defeat on their second trip to the Copperbelt having already suffered a 3-1 loss to Power Dynamos in Kitwe.
5. Goals scored reduced by 2 from Week 3
Week 4 saw a total of 14 goals scored across all the matches (including the Kabwe Warriors’ 1-0 win over Red Arrows).
However, this is a two-goal reduction from Week 3, which saw 16 goals scored including a 5-goal thriller at Nakambala Stadium in the match between FC MUZA and Chambishi.
Nkwazi are the only team that is yet to score this season while Buildcon and Chambishi have allowed the most number of goals so far (7).
Despite being the highest scoring side so far, Lumwana Radiants have allowed as much as they have scored, 6 goals scored, 6 goals conceded.
Looking forward to Week 5, as it stands, Nchanga Rangers with 10 points will continue leading the chart, Prison Leopards, Green Buffaloes, and Forest Rangers all on 8 points close up the top four standings in Week 4.