NAPSA Stars Football Club continued with their good record at home, beating ZESCO United 2-1 in a rescheduled week-seven match of the MTN Super League.
Coming from a barren draw in their previous match against Kansanshi, the Pensioners managed to get two goals past the 2020/2021 league champions in a midweek fixture which was played at the National Heroes Stadium.
This was the third victory for NAPSA Stars at home, with the other result recorded ending in a draw.
It was newly recruited Augustin Mulenga who benefited from the visitor’s breakdown and scored an early goal for the Pensioners in the 3rd minute.
The wait for an equalizer came in the 19th minute for ZESCO United, who had missed two chances to equalize before this goal.
It was a clear 50/50 affair for both sides after this goal, but the hosts looked hungrier to get a second goal until the 59th minute when Musonda Kapembwa scored through a penalty.
It was Kelvin Kampamba that fouled Gift Zulu inside the box for to see NAPSA Stars being awarded a penalty by referee Emmanuel Chishi.
Having taken the lead, the Pensioners maintained control of the game, and were able to comfortably hold on to the lead till the final whistle.
But both teams also had to finish this match with a man down after NAPSA’ s Daniel Adoko and ZESCO’s Kelvin Kampamba were sent off in the 83rd minute after engaging in a boxing match.
In a post-match interview, NAPSA Stars FC Head Coach Perry Mutapa expressed excitement with his sides splendid performance, and added that it was exciting to see his team pick up maximum points at home.
The win took the Pensioners fifth on the log with 12 points from 12th position.
And asked where he though the game was won, coach said his boys did a good job to close off players like Collins Sikombe and Kelvin Kambamba in this match.
And on Augustin Mulenga, Coach Perry said “He had an excellent performance, for a player that has not played in a long time, I am happy with his performance, of course we need to manage him well,” Coach added.
The coach also added that he feels there was still more work to be done in his striking force going forward.
NAPSA Stars have scored seven goals and allowed four after their eight matched played.
NAPSA Stars FC XI: Mukwanya Rodwell, Luka Banda, Gift Zulu, David Odhiambo, Dickson Chapa, Sydney Kalume (Daniel Adoko 45’- red card 83’), Chaniza Zulu (Bornwell Silengo 45’), Leonard Mulenga, Augustin Mulenga (Joseph Lungu 88’), Musonda Kapembwa (Fredrick Mwimanzi 90+), Boster Siyoma (Keegan Zulu 75’).
