Kansanshi Dynamos Fight Back to Hold Kabwe Warriors in Kabwe
MTN Super League | Week 18
Kansanshi Dynamos Football Club produced a spirited performance to claim a valuable point away from home after holding Kabwe Warriors to a 1–1 draw in their MTN Super League Week 18 encounter played in Kabwe.
The hosts started brightly and took an early lead in the 8th minute through Francis Emmanuel Banda. Kabwe Warriors continued to press, and in the 15th minute Simon Tonga found himself with a clear opportunity, but goalkeeper Gwazani stood firm with a crucial save to keep Kansanshi in the contest.
Kansanshi gradually settled into the game and began to threaten going forward. In the 26th minute, Beby Musangala, later named Man of the Match, got into a promising position, but the Kabwe Warriors defence reacted well to deny him.
The 40th minute saw an enforced substitution for Kansanshi Dynamos after Kalonji Mwepu was forced off following a knock. He was taken to Kabwe Central Hospital for further assessment and was discharged after the match. Brighton Kabumba replaced him, a change that would later prove decisive.
At the start of the second half, Kansanshi Dynamos made two more changes. Mathews Banda made his debut, replacing Joseph Chomba, while Willy Bokingo was introduced for Mike Zozi. The substitutions injected fresh energy as Kansanshi dominated possession and pushed forward with renewed intensity.
The pressure finally paid off in the 75th minute when Brighton Kabumba brought Kansanshi level with a well-taken finish after a smart assist from Beby Musangala, making it 1–1.
The match briefly descended into drama late on when play was temporarily halted in the 90th minute after objects were thrown onto the pitch by sections of the home crowd. After order was restored, the referee added nine minutes of stoppage time, but neither side could find a winning goal.
POST-MATCH REACTION
Assistant Coach Dennis Makinka
Assistant Coach Dennis Makinka praised the team’s resilience and fighting spirit following the draw.
“First of all, congratulations to the boys. We knew it was never going to be an easy game. Playing Kabwe Warriors here is always difficult. They are very strong in midfield and keep the ball well, which makes it tough for any team.
The plan we came with didn’t work well in the first half, but after making some tactical changes, we started controlling the game and creating chances. I think a draw is a fair result, and I’ll take the one point today.”
Looking ahead to the second round of the season, Makinka added:
“In the second round, if you don’t get three points away, at least get one. It’s always tough because teams are fighting for different objectives. Getting a point away from home is not a bad result, especially as we prepare for our next game.”
On the team’s fight against relegation, he concluded:
“This is a great squad with very good players. The fighting spirit is there. The boys work extremely hard and never give up. I’m very confident that we will move out of the relegation zone.”
Kansanshi Dynamos will now turn their attention to their next fixture as they return home, aiming to push for maximum points.
