Lumwana down Buffaloes

SUN SPORTS writes @SunZambian TENNANT Chembo picked his first win as Lumwana Radiants coach after guiding his team to a 1-0 victory over Green Buffaloes in a Week-12 MTN/FAZ Super Division fixture at Independence Stadium in Solwezi last Saturday. A 13th minute goal from the experienced former Zanaco FC striker, Felix Nyaende gave Radiants their first win since Chembo took over after the club fired Patrick Phiri. The win propelled Radiants to 15th position with 10 points on par with 14th-placed Buffaloes who missed a chance to move to 11th position on the league table following their loss. At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Red Arrows put up a spirited fight to beat Buildcon FC 2-1 thanks to goals from Felix Simwanza and age-defying veteran James Chamanga. Simwanza had given Arrows an early lead after breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute but the lead was cancelled by Brian Mwila who scored and restored parity in the 24th minute. Mwila’s goal was his first in the Super Division since his return from Austria. Last season’s top scorer Chamanga scored the decisive goal in the 33rd minute as Arrows held on to collect maximum three points away from home. The win in Ndola moved Arrows to ninth on the league table with 15 points on par with eighth-placed Kabwe Warriors who were stunned 2-1 by Zanaco FC last Friday. At Khosa Stadium in Kafue, Young Green Eagles held Indeni to a 1-1 stalemate as fans watched the game from the tall trees around the stadium following the ban imposed on soccer fans from watching matches from the stadiums. In an interview, Minister of Sports Emmanuel Mulenga urged fans to follow the games from their homes on television to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has announced that it will comply with the Government’s ban of football fans from Stadia in the wake of the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases reported in the country. According to a press statement by FAZ Communications manager Sydney Mungala, fans will not be allowed in stadia with immediate effect as a precautionary measure. FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala says the Association will fully comply with Government’s directive and wishes to advise all clubs to adhere to Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development, Emmanuel Mulenga’s announcement on the ban of spectators until further notice. “The health of players, officials, fans and other stakeholders remains our priority and the decision by government to prohibit fans from stadia will allow us to continue with football under the new normal based on advice we have received from the Ministries of Health and Sport.” Kashala assured clubs and all affiliates that FAZ will work hand in hand with the Zambia Medical Association to ensure that the safety of players is guaranteed and league matches continue to be played in a safe environment. He urged clubs to take responsibility and act in a responsible manner in the new normal and also appealed to football loving fans to adhere to the health guidelines and not to force their way into stadium. Fans were only recently allowed back into stadiums two months ago following the March 2020 ban at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. In November representatives from the Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Health, FAZ and the Sports Council of Zambia developed guidelines that clubs had to follow to ensure the safety of players and fans amidst Covid-19.