Nkwazi Football Club head coach Masauso Tembo has given his players 24 hours to celebrate their first victory of the season before returning to work ahead of their next assignment.

The Zambia Police Service-sponsored side secured a hard-fought 1-0 away victory over Red Arrows on Wednesday, ending a difficult start to the campaign that had seen them record four consecutive draws following an opening-day defeat to Roan United.

The victory lifted Nkwazi to seven points from six matches.

Speaking after the match, Tembo said he was delighted with the performance, admitting that his side desperately needed the three points after dropping crucial points at home earlier in the season.

“I’m happy for my boys. We really needed this win because we didn’t start the season very well. We dropped crucial points at home, so this is a big win for us,” he said.

Tembo said the players deserved a brief moment to celebrate the result but would quickly turn their attention to their next fixture against Mutondo Stars.

“Let’s celebrate this one for 24 hours. Then we go back to work and prepare for the second game,” he said.

The Nkwazi coach also praised his players for executing the tactical plan, explaining that his side started with a middle block before dropping deeper in the closing stages to protect their lead.

“I think we started very well. I’m happy we got the goal. Our plan worked. We started with the middle block, but in the last 15 to 20 minutes, we went to a low block,” Tembo explained.

He acknowledged the challenge of facing Red Arrows, stressing the importance of having a clear tactical approach when playing against the Airmen.

“When you come here, you really have to come with a plan. It was not an open game for us. We closed the game well. It worked for us,” he said.

Tembo expressed satisfaction with the team’s ability to secure all three points away from home, as Nkwazi look to build on the victory in their next assignment.