NAPSA Stars Football Club missed out on finishing second with a draw recorded against Forest Rangers FC in a week-33 match of the MTN Super League.
Head Coach Perry Mutapa said in a post-match reaction that he is proud with the performance of the team the season especially coming straight from playing in the National Division One League.
The Coach says the team will work on improving next season to finish even on a better position than this season.
Only one game is remaining to conclude the 2022/23 season and NAPSA Stars currently sits fifth on the log with 50points, two points below the third and second placed teams.
The Pensioners got a chance to finish second but their loss against Nkana in week-32, and a draw against Forest Rangers saw the team miss out on that chance.
And going into the Friday match, NAPSA Stars missed out on several of its key players who suffered injuries ahead of this match.
The Pensioners got a chance as early as the 9th minute when Pinoki Vuvu failed to shoot his chance from a great cross he benefited from Augustin Mulenga, taking his effort wide.
In the 26th minute, the visitors responded with Cedrick’s shot being blocked by Luka Banda.
The 36th minute could have been a good chance for NAPSA Stars to get a goal with a Mwimanzi beautifully taken shot that got parried off by Forest goalkeeper.
The Pensioners won a corner after this incident, but striker Pinoki Vuvu missed another golden opportunity to score.
The visitors got a chance in the 43rd minute through Eric Chomba whose shot hit the post.
Finally, a goal came, but it was in favor of the visitors who scored through their captain Cedric Djeugoue in the 87th minute with a beautiful header.
NAPSA Stars kept pushing for a miracle until the team was awarded a penalty in the last minute of the added time after Cedric handled the ball inside the box.
Dickson Chapa stepped up and scored the penalty to see both teams share spoils.
NAPSA Starting 1X.
Rodwell Mukwanya, Gift Zulu, David Odhiambo, Luka Banda, Fredrick Mwimanzi, Dickson Chapa, Daniel Adoko (Boster Siyoma 82’), Felix Banda (Chaniza Zulu 55’) , Austin Banda (Keegan Zulu 63’), Augustine Mulenga, Pinoki Vuvu (Doisy Soko 45’).
