By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Red Arrows assistant coach Kalililo Kakonje says they will not underrate hosts Nkana tomorrow despite the ailing giants poor start to the 2024/2025 season.
Nkana had spent their first eight games of the season in the bottom four of the FAZ Super League table in which phase they won one, lost three and drew four games.
But last Saturday, Nkana moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this season jumping from 16th to 13th after recording their biggest league win of the campaign so far when they beat old foes Mufulira Wanderers 3-1 away at Shinde on new coach Mwenya Chipepo’s debut.
Tomorrow, Chipepo makes his home debut in a massive test to lift Nkana from their slump when Arrows come calling at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
But Arrows assistant coach Kakonje believes they will be facing a very motivated Nkana who are hungry for their first home win of the 2024/2025 campaign.
“We are taking it one game at a time, Nkana has been picking up points of late and are looking at getting away from the position they are in at the moment on the table, ” Kakonje said.
“It is always a good side to play against, the biggest team in Zambia so we need to take the game seriously.
“We are playing away so if we can get another 3 points it will be a very big boost for the boys and ourselves.”
Arrows will go into the game four days after a 2-0 away win over Kabwe Warriors coming on the heels of another win against Nkwazi 1-0.
Those back-to-back wins helped lift Arrows from number five to second position on 17 points, displacing Power Dynamos to third who are on 16 points.
Arrows are now three points behind leaders Zesco United after nine games played.
Arrows are also unbeaten against Nkana in their last two league meetings in the 2023/2024 season when they recorded similar 1-0 home and away victories over the record 13-time Zambian champions.
