Nkana FC head coach Mwenya Chipepo has silenced critics with three consecutive wins since his recent appointment, which has seen him guide the Kitwe giants to three straight league victories.
Three consecutive wins may be a direct response to those who doubted his decision to leave Dola Hill for Nkana Stadium—a move that represents one of the toughest challenges of his coaching career.
Other pundits suggest, it may be too early to suggest he has settled at the 13-times Zambian Champions, whose support base is huge and demandful.
“When I made the decision to join Nkana, a lot of people were saying negative things and they thought maybe I am going to fail,” Chipepo said.
“You know, people cannot insult you if you are doing a good job. People cannot insult you if you are doing good things. You will see good things from the technical bench.”
Chipepo led Nkana to an impressive 3-0 away victory against Indeni at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday, marking the club’s third straight win under his leadership.
This triumph moved Nkana into 8th place on the league table, a position Chipepo believes is a more fitting reflection of the club’s stature.
“I’m happy to pick up three points; we have moved now to 8th on the log, I think,” he said. “Nkana is a big club; it’s not supposed to be at the bottom.”
Since taking over, Chipepo has credited former coach Ian Bakala for assembling a promising squad during his tenure. According to Chipepo, his role has been to refine the existing team rather than overhaul it.
“There Is Room For Improvement” – Chipepo.
“Players have adapted to our philosophy, which is good,” he said. “They impress us in training; no one is lazy. What we have done is just to increase the endurance—they just need polishing. The team is there, and the coach who was there did well; he brought in good players. My job is just to polish the team.”
Despite Nkana’s recent surge, Chipepo cautioned against setting immediate title ambitions, emphasizing that the team is still a work in progress.
“Not yet. We are still improving the team. Second round, things will change; there is room for improvement,” he stated.
Reflecting on his childhood memories of watching Nkana in continental competitions, Chipepo expressed a deep desire to restore the club’s former glory.
“I have watched a lot of teams at Nkana when I was young. We want to make sure we bring back the glory days at Nkana.”
