Kawinga FC coach Harry Saidi insisted there is still a “long way to go” in the CRFA Chipiku Premier Division League title race after climbing second in the standings courtesy of an emphatic 2-0 win over Silver Strikers Reserve at Nankhaka Stadium.
Goals from Arnold Kiyama and Frank Phiri helped Kawinga FC to trim the gap with leaders Namitete Zitha to just two points.
It was goalless after a sloppy first half but Kawinga FC came strong in the second half where they dominated play, unsurprisingly they got their two important goals .
Despite beating one of the strongest side in the division, head coach Saidi, said they are not carried away with the result.
“It’s still a long way to go, we have almost seven games to play, we don’t need to be carried away with this win anything can happen so we need to fight until the end”
“It wasn’t an easy game considering the fact that we lost in our last meeting so they had full confidence to repeat that but let me thank players for working extra hard for this win”
“I told my boys to be confident enough, we are a good side but sometimes we lack confidence as you know we have youthful players so we have been encouraging them no wonder we displayed good football and we have won” said Saidi
The game started on a low note but Kawinga FC were tactically a better side in the first half as they restricted the Young Bankers from creating clear cut chances.
Frank Phiri had the first attempt for Kawinga FC after just 13 minutes but his 25 mitres drive from freekick nearly missed the target.
Seven minutes later it was Kelvin Gama who headed wide a cross from Arnold Kiyama when he was left unmarked in the six yard box.
Silver Strikers Reserve had their first attempt on 25th minutes but Ishmael Hassan failed to guide the ball on goal after headed the ball from Lasuli Jali’s corner kick.
Kelvin Gama squandered another scoring chance after 32 minutes when he was found on the final end of Kiyama’s pass but his weak shot inside the box went straight into the palms of Chimwemwe Wanda in goals for Silver Strikers Reserve.
There was little action in the final thirds of both sides as both side looked to more cautious to avoid conceding.
Kawinga FC improved in the second half and were into the lead on 48th minutes when Moses Nyirenda brought down Harvey Nasiyaya in the box and Arnold Kiyama stepped up to put his team in front.
Seven minutes later, Harry Saidi brought in Andrew Bisika for Kelvin Gama as he looked to extend the lead.
Kawinga were 2 up two minutes after their substitution. Harvey Nasiyaya was brought down 30 mitres from Silver Strikers Reserve goals and it was Frank Phiri who curled it into the far left corner of Chimwemwe Wanda’s goal.
After an hour mark, Silver Strikers Reserve coach MacDonald Yobe introduced Masambilo Kalua and Aaron Namacha for Ishmael Hassan and Robbin White.
Namacha brought in an instant impact and moments later he combined well with Lasuli Jali whose shot hit the post before cleared by Isaac Kalaole.
On 73rd minute, Masambiro Kaluwa had a chance to reduce the scoreline after receiving the ball from Wisdom Jere but the junior flames star failed to tap in before goalkeeper Ramdan Ally used his legs to block the ball.
The game produced last clear chance at 82nd minute when two Kawinga players failed to finish off a Kondwani Lipenga excellent delivery in the box.
After 15 games Kawinga are now second with 32 points, trailing leaders Namitete Zitha with two points.
On his part Silver Strikers Reserve coach who was red carded on 60th minute wasn’t satisfied with the officiation.
He said “This is too much from referees, they are spoiling games, we spend days and our time preparing for game but at the end you face this type of officiation it doesn’t look good”
“You see how the referees managed this game, they play of our opponents and I ask myself if this team can live up the heat of Super League”
“Of course we didn’t play well today but referees contributed to our loss but it happens in football we will bounce back in our remaining seven game”
“We still have high chances of winning this league, we have seven games to play anything can happen” said Yobe
Silver Strikers Reserve have dropped down from second to third with their 31 points.
