SUNDAY, March 19, 2000
NKANA returned to the African Club Champions Cup competition after a six year absence with a first round first leg win over USS Tamponnaise at St. Mitchell's Volnnay stadium in the Reunion Island yesterday.
Nkana made their intentions known from the early minutes of the first half when they systematically frustrated the inexperienced Tamponnaise.
In the second half, Nkana made two tactical changes which included veteran Kenneth Malitoli who replaced Douglas Chiwaya and Freddie Mwila junior for Musole Sakulanda.
That was after Sakulanda had given Nkana the lead in 60 minutes and the change paid off when Malitoli and Mwila forced Tamponnaise into conceding an own goal in the 85th minute.
Sakulanda, a former Zambia international and top scorer received a pass from Chiwaya and expertly turned the ball into the net with ease.
Chiwaya had intercepted a loose ball in the center circle and while racing to the wing, shot set Sakulanda for the goal that gave Nkana the lead and destabilise the hosts.
Eleven minutes later, under pressure, Tamponnaise defender Thierray Robert shot into his own net to give Nkana the second goal.
Nkana trainer Patrick Phiri said Tamponnaise had given his side a tough time in the opening minutes but then the Zambian champions took over the proceedings forcing the hosts to live dangerously towards the end of the game.
Tamponnaise scored their face saver through Boenar in the 71st minute.
Phiri said his team stated on a slow and cautious pace while Tamponnaise entered the Volnnay stadium hoping to shock Nkana with an early goal.
But Nkana, according to Phiri still had confident and could not allow themselves to be intimidated by the French chanting crowd.
Tamponnaise had sent several shorts at Nkana goalkeeper Emmanuel Msichili but the former international was alert and kept a good number of shots away before conceding from a superb low shot from Boenar.
When Phiri removed Sakulanda and Chiwaya in the second half for Malitoli and Mwila Junior, things changed for the better and Nkana almost got a third goal.
Mwila had sent a hard shot which Robert, under pressure to clear sent a shot in his own net for Nkana's second goal.
Chiwaya and defender Martin Bwalya were yellow carded for a fouls on opponents.
Delegation leader Pivoty Simwanza, a FAZ committee member said he was impressed by Nkana's performance.
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