Bakala’s Forest Rangers suffered their first defeat this year when they lost 2-0 to Nchanga Rangers on Saturday.

Two goals in each half from Ciel Ebengo and Pedro Miguel were enough to hand the Ndola-based side their first defeat in nine games.

But despite dropping points, Bakala said his side still remains in the title race

He expressed confidence that they still have a long way to go before the title race is concluded

“There are still 30 points to go. That’s 10 games to go, and I think the race is still on. We will fight for the championship,” he said in a post-match interview.

Bakala went on to say that the loss to Nchanga Rangers was painful, but that his team would bounce back.

“It’s so painful, though I have to give credit to my boys; we conceded early, and I think we have to go back on the ground and work on it,” he said.

Bakala also condemned the antics of the Nchanga Rangers ballboys in delaying the game as having contributed to his team’s loss.

“Premiership football you can’t remain with two balls in the stadium, worse off the game was on T.V. Football is supposed to be played normally, and football is not about delaying. Its better then not to put ballboys,” he said

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Meanwhile, Nchanga Rangers coach Aggrey Chiyangi promised to engage the club’s management over the misconduct of the ballboys.

“Yes, I think what we are going to do is talk to the management about that,” he said. “Because even us we don’t want to see that. This is football and we have to follow the rules.”

Forest Rangers had not lost a game since November last year, and the defeat meant that league leaders, Power Dynamos extended their lead at the top of the table to five points.

Bakala men will play Nkana in a week 24 match at Dola Hill stadium next weekend.