Chipolopolo midfielder Kings Kangwa reached double digits for league goals scored this season with his opening strike in Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s 1-1 draw with Beitar Jerusalem on Monday. His impressive performances this season have seen him achieve an unprecedented goal feat for a Southern African player.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva made a flying start to the contest with Kangwa setting up a Helder Lopes header that deflected off the post in the fourth minute.
The woodwork did not come to Beitar Jerusalem’s rescue this time around, as the visitors drew first blood at 13 minutes from a Kangwa goal. He expertly dispatched the ball into the back of the net with a scintillating first-time right-footed finish.
The hosts drew parity in the 30th minute through Omer Atzili and had several chances to win the match but fluffed their lines. A hard-fought point for the league leaders, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, who finished the regular season on 58 points.
Kangwa’s reaction after scoring tenth goal
With his goal against Beitar Jerusalem, Kangwa became the first Southern African player to score 10 league goals in Europe this season. Despite being a midfielder, he reached double figures in goals ahead of highly rated strikers on the subcontinent like Patson Daka, M’Bala Nzola, and Tino Kadewere.
Along with his 10 goals, Kangwa has registered seven assists for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 25 top-flight appearances.
“It was a tough game against a strong opponent. We could have ended the game in the first half, but that’s football. What’s important is that we didn’t lose and we’re moving forward,” reacted Kangwa after the match.
The Copper Bullets star added, “Our goal from the beginning of the season was to be in first place at the end of the season and that’s what we’re striving for.”
With the regular season concluded, the top six teams will progress to the championship round, where they will compete against each other twice, adding to their current point tallies.
“I want the team to win the championship; I want to finish strong,” Kangwa told BolaNews.
Since 2009-10, the side that finished on top of the regular season goes on to win the Israeli Premier League. Hapoel Be’er Sheva, who currently only leads by a point, will face 6th-place Maccabi Netanya on March 15.
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