Nkana’s perfect start to the transitional Super League season is no accident.
Three games, three wins, nine points. Top of Stream A. At Nkana Stadium in Wusakile on Sunday, Elijah Tana’s side did not just beat Nchanga Rangers 2-0, they sent a statement about what a balanced team can achieve.
What is most impressive about this Nkana side is not just the results, but the method.
On one hand, there is Lazarous Kambole, a seasoned striker who knows where the goal is. His opener against Rangers, created by Kedrick Mumba’s vision from his own half, was a reminder that experience still matters in Zambian football. On the other, there is Patrick Gondwe, alert and hungry to pounce when Captain Harrison Chisala’s effort was parried by keeper Victor Chabu.
Nkana are deservedly top. Tana has blended young, energetic players with experienced heads like Kambole and Chisala, and for now, the chemistry is working. But the perfection of nine points masks a lack of clinical edge that better opponents will exploit.
This blend of youth and experience that Coach Tana has spoken about is beginning to produce results. The young, energetic players provide pace and hunger, the experienced heads provide guidance and composure. It is a formula that has served Nkana well throughout its decorated history, and it is working again.
Tana deserves credit for his honesty. “We won’t relax,” he said after the win. “We will continue pushing until the end.” That is exactly the mentality Kalampa needs. Too many times in recent seasons, Nkana have started well only to fade when pressure mounts. This transitional league is short, but it is competitive, and consistency will be key.
Now, spare a thought for Nchanga Rangers. Assistant Coach Israel Mwanza was candid enough to admit his side is under pressure after three straight defeats. Conceding early goals has become a worrying habit for Brave. Yet Mwanza insists their system is fine. Football, however, is a results business. Systems mean little if they cannot stop early setbacks.
For the league as a whole, Nkana’s resurgence is good news. A strong Nkana makes a strong Super League. When Kalampa are firing, attendances improve, rivalry intensifies, and the standard goes up. Their next test away to Konkola Blades will tell us whether this perfect start is a false dawn or the beginning of a genuine title charge in the transitional campaign.
For now, Kalampa are showing the way. The challenge is to stay there.
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