Nchanga Rangers FC ended their six-match losing streak with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nkwazi FC in a Week 30 MTN Super League encounter at Nchanga Stadium on Wednesday.
A solitary goal from Andrew Mupande, pushed Nchanga Rangers to fourth place on 46 points.
Nkwazi, remain in 14th position with 30 points as their relegation concerns persist.
Speaking after the match, Nchanga Rangers second assistant coach Humphrey Malikoni acknowledged the difficulty of the contest, particularly given the team’s recent poor run of form.
“First and foremost, we are happy for the boys. They played under very difficult conditions after losing six games in a row,” Malikoni said. “We were also facing a team fighting to remain in the Super League, so it was not an easy game.”
Malikoni also highlighted the challenge of playing in front of a divided support base but praised his players for their determination.
“The boys put up a very good fight and we are happy for them,” he added.
The coach noted that his side started brightly but struggled with finishing in the first half before finding the breakthrough early in the second half.
“From the first whistle, we started very well and created chances, but we couldn’t convert them. In the second half, we managed to score early, and that changed the game,” he explained.
Malikoni was encouraged by the performance of new players introduced into the squad.
“They played well, and we are looking forward to them maintaining that performance,” he said.
He further praised goalkeeper John Mutale, who started ahead of team captain Victor Chabu, for keeping a clean sheet, noting that the technical bench is rotating goalkeepers to give them valuable game time.
“It’s a very good start for him. We are trying to rotate our goalkeepers so that they can all gain experience,” Malikoni said.
The win provides a significant mental boost for Nchanga Rangers, who had been struggling for results in recent weeks.
“It was very important mentally because we cannot continue losing games,” Malikoni said.
