Nkana on Saturday reached their first cup final since 2000 after ousting defending Coca Cola Cup champions Kabwe Warriors 1-0 in their semifinal doubleheader match played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.
The last time fallen Nkana won any cup was in 2000 when they won the Mosi, BP and Charity Shield but were pipped to the retaining their league title by their local arch rivals Power Dynamos.
Nkana secured their win in the Coke Cup through their DR Congo born striker Patrick Kabamba whose goal denied Warriors the opportunity to become the last team to go on to defend the last edition of the Coke Cup.
Promotion chasing Nkana will meet current top-flight leaders Zesco United in this years final tentatively planned for Arthur Davies in Kitwe at a date to be announced.
Zesco booked their final place after defeating division 1 south promotion chasers Nkwazi 2-1 in the lunchtime kickoff of their Coca Cola Cup semifinal tie at Nkoloma.
Zesco’s prolific pair of Rainford Kalaba and Enoch Sakala both supplied the goals to guide Zesco to their first Coke Cup final since 2002 when they lost 2-1 to Chambishi that year.
Nkwazi’s consolation goal against Zesco came through this years Coca Cola Cup tournaments top scorer Chipungu Musukuma.
Meanwhile Nkana continue their cup quest on a different front this Wednesday when they play in 5th round of the Mosi Cup away to
division 2 north club Mufumbwe.
Nkwazi too will be in Mosi Cup action on Wednesday and they will be away to Gwembe FC in their delayed round 5 match.
Tulamyeba. Kalampa ni Kalampa. Devil Devil!Let’s go and win it boys.Switch off Zesco in the final.Brace for a blackout in Ndola, mwe bena Ndola
Ati nalelo ba Nkana bawina!That’s what i’m talking about, the boys mean business.Sorry ba Warriors next time with the final in Kitwe na tu wina ichi Kombe already!A Big up to the management for the revival of the team.
I had an opportunity of watching Kalampa Nkana FC in this game. We have a good team!!
We have a prolific striker in the name of Patrick Kabamba. The guy scores in almost every game. It was also nice to see E. Mayuka. He is a good player and very young indeed. He has alot of good years ahead.
Belive me, Kalampa is back!! Anyone who beats a champion automatically becomes a champion. The final with ZESCO is a mere formality. Thay have no team to talk about except for 1 or 2 quite good players.
Keep it Up Kalampa.
Keep it up Nkana, lets see the illusion of zesco now!
#3 Born Rich
My brother I missed this game because of some relatives from the village who arrived in Saturday.
Tell me my brother how was the support for Nkana at the Stadium?,what was the atmosphere? was the team remiscent of the Nkana of the hey days?.Ws it a fast game ?. How was the mood at the stadium after the final whistle?. Please my brother let me relish the details.
#6. good CITIZEN
You have been missing on the blog for a long time. Good to hear from you.
‘Devils’ show Warriors hell
STEPHEN PHIRI and ROBINSON KUNDA report:
NKANA 1 WARRIORS 0
NKANA, the yesteryear legendary team with a knack for champagne football that charmed fans and flattened opponents, lived up to expectations when they reached the final of the Coca-Cola Cup after ejecting Kabwe Warriors at Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium yesterday.
A repeat act by Congolese striker Patrick Kabamba condemned Warriors out of the competition and propelled Nkana to the lofty heights they last reached in 2000 when they lost to Green Buffaloes in the Mosi Cup final.
Kabamba, whose goal eliminated Warriors from the Barclays Cup on August 18, was again the hero for Nkana when he buried home Mwila Kabwe’s pass in a perfect build-up 18 minutes into the game.
William Chinse latched onto a wandering ball and transferred responsibility to Mwila who in turn found Kabamba well-positioned to beat goalkeeper Kelvin Musonda and elicit celebrations from thousands of Nkana supporters who thronged the stadium.
“I am short of words,†said Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi.
Nkana started the match on a roaring note with Kabamba missing the upright in the ninth minute when he bulldozed through Warriors’ defence.
Junior international Emmanuel Mayuka could have restored parity for Warriors on 24 minutes when he missed a Maunga Kabuku cross and ended up hitting his head into the goal post.
On 37 minutes, Kabamba who was a thorn to the Nkana defence, combined well with Mwila and Chinse before setting up veteran Kennedy Mubanga who released a scorcher, which goalkeeper Musonda parried for a corner.
On resumption, both teams increased the tempo and Chinse was shown a yellow card by referee Wellington Kaoma for diving in the box.
Warriors’ best chance to equalise was in the 61st minute when Henry Banda, only needing a tap-in, failed to meet a Kabuku cross.
In a bid to defend the lead, Chambeshi brought in international Mark Sinyangwe for Mubanga on 62 minutes while Warriors introduced Musonda Mweuka and Vias Mwendalubi for Banda and Siloni Jere respectively.
As the game gathered pace and tempers began to flare, Warriors’ skipper Clive Sichondwe was shown a yellow card for a foul on Chinse.
Kabuku tried to bring his side back into the game but his long-range effort was parried for a corner by Kelvin Mulenga on 74 minutes.
“I concede defeat… we did not play our game especially in the first half. We were using high balls.
Hopefully, we will meet them again in the Mosi Cup,†said Warriors coach Arnold Mtonga.
Warriors borrowed jerseys from Nkwazi after their two sets of jerseys clashed with Nkana’s colours.
To reach this far, Nkana edged Green Eagles 1-0 while Warriors cruised to the last four after the Football Association of Zambia tossed out Green Buffaloes for causing abandonment.
#6. ama CITIZEN, Nkana has a fairly, very young side. The man to watch is Patrick Kabamba, the captain. He is a congolise born striker and top score at Nkana. His average score per game is over 1.5!! He scores in every game!! He has a body structure like that of Christopher Katongo.
The crowd was esctatic and it was Red and White throughout, with a few people spotted in Blue and White.
It was a highly contested game and produced alot of sparks from both sides. Nkana enjoyed alot of possession in the game than warriors and watching them, you wouldnt know that it is a division 1 outfit. Nkana almost scored a few SECONDS after kick off. With only the goalkeeper to beat, a Nkana striker failed to convert the change into a goal. In the Second half, Nkana was denied what almost everyone thought was a penalty when a Nkana Play was brought down the box.
As regards, whether their kind of play is remiscent of the Nkana of the hey days, there is still something to be done to reach those levels but it is ENOUGH TO SAY THAT NKANA CAN TAKE ON ANY TEAM IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND WIN CONVINCINGLY. THE RED DEVILS ARE BACK.
Warriors, had their best moments though. They had their chance to level the scores but it was too late for them to change the situation.Mayuka is really a player to watch. The chap is very young, well build and has alot of character and discipline on the pitch.
After 90 minutes it was Nkana 1 Warriors 0
WARRIORS BALI MULILA INKOKO!!!
Ba Born Rich, Thanks for the update. Its good to know that the ‘Red Devils’ are doing fine. Nkana li team lyachalo. Hopefully they can bounce back, win the premier division top spot. We want to see Nkana play continental club football again, hopefully.
Ba Born Rich thanx a lot and keep it up. I wish Kalampa all the best. Ba Born Rich is possible for you to update me on what is happening at Shinde stadium? How I cherish to see Mighty back in premier division.
It goes without saying that Nkana is still a team to reckon with in African football. We are back and back to conquer the pretenders.
Thanks Billy-SA.
RN Pretoria, any time i get the data, i will do likewise. I am sure you have recovered from the ecstasy of the 3-1 bashing of bafana bafana.
WARRIORS COACH WAS QUOTED:
“I concede defeat… we did not play our game especially in the first half. We were using high balls.
Hopefully, we will meet them again in the Mosi Cup,†said Warriors coach Arnold Mtonga.
These guys never stubborn. We ejected them in the Barclays Cup and in the Coca Cola Cup but they still want to meet us in the Mosi Cup!!! (Nkana continue their cup quest on a different front this Wednesday when they play in 5th round of the Mosi Cup away to
division 2 north club Mufumbwe.)
Thanks Billy-SA.
RN Pretoria, any time i get the data, i will do likewise. I am sure you have recovered from the ecstasy of the 3-1 bashing of bafana bafana.
WARRIORS COACH WAS QUOTED:
“I concede defeat… we did not play our game especially in the first half. We were using high balls.
Hopefully, we will meet them again in the Mosi Cup,†said Warriors coach Arnold Mtonga.
These guys are stubborn. We ejected them in the Barclays Cup and in the Coca Cola Cup but they still want to meet us in the Mosi Cup!!! (Nkana continue their cup quest on a different front this Wednesday when they play in 5th round of the Mosi Cup away to
division 2 north club Mufumbwe.)
Ba Devil ba Devil, ba Devil ba boma! Zesco wafwa; infumu nashifika!
Born Rich thanks for the and info.
Born Rich, thanks for the updates all the info
Davy Chile , i told you so !!!! Osa sobela na Kalampa !!
Ine mau less.Cha nsoni!We used to grow up with Kabuku Maunga one of Warriors top men and I once asked him if Warriors were poaching for him when he was still at National Assembly before moving to Zanaco.I’ve been Warriors since the age of 6.
nkana fc has made the Nation of Zambia proud but it seems people do not appreciate to what Nkana has done.
You think no company can recogonise the efforts nkana supporters have made towards the running of the team.Nkana has a very rich history in terms of continental football.
can any company come to the rescure of the most cerebrated club in zambia.please don’t just make profits put the same back in the community.Any firm/company that is going to sponsor Nkana will do the most awaited dream in the Land of Zambia.
I hope one or so firms will respond to this request.
Bernard Puta-Nkana FC Life Supporter-CBU-KITWE-ZAMBIA