It was an exciting week-four of the MTN Super League for the Pensioners who managed to record their first win of the season by beating Green Eagles FC at Heroes Stadium on Saturday.
NAPSA Stars came from behind to defeat the Choma based side that took their lead just a minute before half time.
The Perry Mutapa-drilled side came back charged in the second half to score two goals and claim all the three points.
It was substitute, Jimmy Mukeya, who was introduced for injured Daniel Adoko that scored an equalizing goal for the Pensioners in the 57th minute. Mukeya tapped into a Luka Banda header.
Austin Banda had an exciting match scoring a cracker of a goal from long range in the 74th minute to see NAPSA Stars confirm their victory and excite their home fans.
Before these goals, the Pensioners had issued a few warnings to the visiting side, with the first being in the 15th minute when Austin Banda’s shot was well saved by Eagles goalkeeper Kenneth Mwanga.
Two minutes after this, Eagles responded with a nicely taken shot by Ernest Mbewe which sent Mukwanya to work with a great parry to take the ball out for a corner.
Another of their chances came in the 31st minute when Derrick Bulaya wasted his effort wide.
NAPSA Stars FC Assistant Coach Sipho Mumbi expressed excitement with the team’s first victory saying it was exciting to see the boys maintain their fighting spirit despite conceding first.
Coach Sipho stressed how important the victory was for the Pensioners especially looking at how the team had not scored a single goal from the time the league started.
“We expected such resilience from Eagles but I am happy we managed to win. The win lifted our spirit and I hope this is a start of great results going forward,” Coach Sipho said.
And Green Eagles Head Coach Aggrey Chiyangi expressed his disappointment with his team’s result saying he had warned his side of complacency going into this match.
The Victory has taken NAPSA Stars to 12th position with five points after four games played. The team has recorded one victory, two draws and one loss.
The Pensioner’s next assignment is against Power Dynamos FC in Kitwe this Saturday.
Full squad against Eagles;
Rodwell Mukwanya, Gift Zulu, Keegan Zulu, Luka Banda, Fredrick Mwimanzi, Dickson Chapa, Daniel Adoko (Jimmy Mukeya 45’), Leonard Mulenga, Thomas Banda (Bernard Katumoya 45’), Austin Banda (Musonda Kapembwa 90’), Chaniza Zulu (Sydney Kalume 83’) .
Unused subs;
Bornwell Silengo, Philip Banda, Simon Nkhata, Boster Siyoma.