NAPSA Stars Football Club started the second round of their season on a high, thrashing defending champions Red Arrows FC 3-1 in a Janny Silazwe officiated match that was played at National Heroes Stadium this afternoon.
Before center referee Sikazwe who has gone into retirement blew the whistle to start the game, he was given a standing ovation from the spectators, both teams and other match officials as he officiated his last match after 23 years of his service to the game.
The game started at a pacey rate with both teams trying to break the deadlock.
The visiting team could have scored first through a Sadam Phiri counterattack, but Luka Banda was equal to the task and recovered the ball with a sliding tackle to stop a dangerous move just in the 3rd minute of the game.
Three minutes after this, Red Arrows Forward Conlyde Luchanga missed a golden chance from an inch with a volley from a conner kick that was delivered in the 18yard by Sadam Phiri.
As the game was unwrapping, NAPSA Stars enjoyed some swift play displaying dribbles from Musonda Kapembwa that found Simon Nkhata who connected with a beautiful close-range strike sending the ball into the right conner of the net to make it 1-0 in favor of NAPSA Stars in the 11th minute.
Red Arrows however did not go to sleep as they kept on knocking making Luka Banda to block a shot, that was surely aiming for the goal a minute just after scoring in the 16th minute of the game.
The visiting team continued being persistent with Bennedict Chepeshi delivering a superb cross that failed to connect to his teammates and landed straight in Mukwanya’s palms after 22 minutes played.
The visitors finally goat their equalizer in the 38th minute after Sadam Phiri scored from the penalty spot. It was George Mandu that was brought down inside the box by Keegan Zulu.
The second half of the game was not short of entertaining activities as it produced more goals.
Five minutes after the start of the second half, Musonda Kapembwa did not waste a vital chance as he scored from the penalty spot after Red Arrows captain Benedict Chepeshi handed the ball in the 18 yard box.
Augustine Mulenga almost extended the lead when the ball landed in his feet after a confusion in Red Arrows half, but could not precisely shoot on goal at it went slightly wide in the 68th minute.
He however redeemed himself just three minutes after this, scoring from a tight angle when Red Arrows Goalkeeper Charles Kalumba failed to communicate with his defenders in the 71st minute to make it 3-1 in favor of NAPSA Stars.
And in a post-match interview, NAPSA Stars Head Coach Perry Mutapa said he is impressed with the performance of his team despite playing a tough opponent.
He also added that the win gotten from today’s game will help the team’s long-term plan which is that of stabilizing in the League.
Meanwhile Red Arrows gaffer described the loss as disappointment, attributing it to the Mid-Season break that lagged his team.
He also added that the team started today’s game well with some confidence despite failing to keep the momentum.
Today’s victory has taken NAPSA Stars to nineth position with 24 points while Red Arrows has dropped to sixth position from fifth remaining with 27 points.
NAPSA Stars Starting XI
Rodwell Mukwanya , Gift Zulu, Keegani Zulu, Dickson Chapa, Musonda Kabengele, Musonda Kapembwa(Austine Banda 66′) Luka Banda(Sydney Kalume 77′), Simon Nkata(Daniel Adoko 77′) Augustine Mulenga, Fredrick Mwimanzi and Jimmy Mukeya.