By RONALD CHAWE –
Lumwana 3 Buffaloes 1
LUMWANA Radiants produced another radiant performance against the MTN-FAZ Super League big boys as they tamed Green Buffaloes’ title surge to move closer to challenging for a top four finish.
It was a performance that coach Zeddy Saileti said gave his side confidence that they can challenge for the title next season.
This win comes after Lumwana had thrashed Zesco 3-0 last week and it was a big blow for Buffaloes, who could have gone six points clear ahead of champions Zanaco who face bottom placed City of Lusaka today.
Buffaloes remain top with 53 points followed by Power Dynamos who are tied on 50 points with Zanaco as Nkana failed to close the gap as they drew to drop to fourth on 49 points with Lumwana coming in on 45 points.
Saileti said in a post-match interview that he had told his players to believe in themselves and hailed them for following his instructions.
“After beating Zesco, I told my young players that we need to focus for the next game and they showed that in training. Today (yesterday) they produced what we learnt in training and I commend them for the performance because this shows they are ready for the title next season,” he said.
A brace from Hosea Silwimba in the 10th and 18th minute and another goal from Chanda Mushili in the 34th minute put Lumwana in control before Friday Samu pulled one back in the 42nd minute.
Buffaloes coach Bilton Musonda said he was disappointed his players played disjointed football in the first half.
“Its football and anything can happen but otherwise we are still on course and we just need to focus in the next games,” he said.
A win pushed Lumwana to 45 points while Buffaloes remained on 53 points.
Power 2 Nakambala 0
Power sneaked into second place following a home win over Nakambala Leopards, reports KALUMIANA KALUMIANA at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
The six-time champions toppled Zanaco from the number two spot only on goal difference but tied on 50 points before the latter host City today.
Power could have closed this match by at least 5-0 but a very hungry Alex Ng’onga wasn’t rewarded for his hard work with any goals.
Regan Lulendo collected two efforts off Ng’onga in the 15th and 16th minutes and the striker fired high and over from close range in the 28th minute.
But Jimmy Ndhlovu put Power ahead in the 42nd minute with a sublime strike to see the hosts take a 1-0 lead into the break.
The post then conspired against Ng’onga in the 51st minute but he redeemed himself to turn provider for Kennedy Mudenda’s 62nd minute goal.
Power’s win ended their four match winless drought after collecting two losses and two draws since beating Red Arrows 3-1 on August 26 at the same venue. Nakambala are on 34 points.
Warriors 0 Nkana 0
Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi was left happy to have collected a point as his side snatched a vital away draw against Kabwe Warriors whose woes deepened as they remained in relegation battle after this match that saw them miss a penalty, reports SYLVESTER MWALE at Godfrey Chitalu Stadium.
But Warriors coach Elijah Chikwanda could not hide his frustration in a post match interview saying the result felt like a loss because his side had outplayed Nkana and were unlucky not to collect maximum points.
Clement Mwape missed a penalty which was awarded after Nkana defender Amos Simwanza handled inside the box but keeper Moses Mapulunga came to his rescue when he saved the resultant kick for a corner.
Apart from the penalty, a trademark throw in from Warriors defender Mwape Tandi 35 yards out ended up in the net but the referee ruled it out for a goal kick after the assistant referee suggested it had not touched anyone before going in.
Nakonde 0 Zesco 2
Zesco United won their first league game in five matches thanks to goals from John Ching’ándu and Jesse Were either side of half time.
After a dip in form which saw the team drop to sixth position ahead of this weekend’s league matches, the Ndola giants were under pressure to get maximum points and made their intentions known midway the first half when Ching’ándu put them ahead with a fine finish.
Were sealed the victory early in the second half as Zesco moved to fifth position with 49 points though they still have two games in hand while Nakonde’s chances of survival continued to dwindle as they sit second from the bottom with 20 points.
Napsa 0 Arrows 1
At Edwin Imboela Stadium, SANDRA MWILA reports that Linos Makwaza’s three-game winning run came to an abrupt halt as Napsa Stars lost against Red Arrows and missed the chance to close up on the leading pack.
Bruce Musankanya scored the only goal of the match when he headed in a Danny Sibanda cross in the 64th minute to ensure Arrows revival continued as they leapfrogged their host’s into 10th position with 39 points.
Nkwazi 1 Blades 0
In the earlier match played at Edwin Imboela Stadium, coach Kenneth Malitoli started his reign on a winning note thanks to a Jubell Sakala goal that pushed Nkwazi to 41 points and left Konkola Blades third from bottom on 25 points.

Sakala scored in the 16th minute off a Chishimba Changala rebound as Malitoli, who took over from sidelined Albert Mphande, watched his side pick maximum points in a tightly contested match .
Buildcon 1 Wanderers 0
MWACHIYABA Akakulubelwa struck in the 91st minute as Buildcon broke ‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers hearts at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in an evenly contested match, writes NDINAWE SIMPELWE.
After holding on for almost the entire game, Wanderers failed to defend a short corner in added time and Narcisse Ekanga sent in a teasing cross which Akakulubelwa headed in to grab all three points for the hosts.
The win sent Buildcon to seventh position on 46 points while Wanderers remained in the relegation zone on 16th position with 27 points.
Forest 1 Eagles 0
KOBE Chipeta’s 24th minute headed goal helped Forest Rangers narrowly edge Green Eagles in a hard fought early kickoff at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, reports RONALD CHAWE.
Chipeta beat Eagles goal -minder Robert Mwanza in the far corner when he nodded in Green Mumba’s free kick to give the Ndola side a slender advantage at the interval.
After the break, the Aggrey Chiyangi coached Eagles upped the tempo of the game but Forest Rangers goalkeeper Daniel Mutshinemu produced heroic saves by denying both Spencer Sautu and Tapson Kaseba in the 48th  and 54th minutes respectively.
Kaseba, who in the later stages of the game turned into the ball boy, missed another one on one chance in the 85th minute, and saw his team remain stuck on 34points while Forest moved to 38 points.
Playing today: Zanaco v City of Lusaka, Lusaka Dynamos v Nchanga Rangers