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| Sports |
| Ng’ambi’s brace sinks Civo United |
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by
Potiphar Mhango, 24 January 2005
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10:35:34
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Two first half goals by the Enyimba-bound, Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi on Saturday afternoon sank the home side Civo United 2-1 in a friendly match played at the Civo Stadium.
Despite the victory, the Bullets had to live through several nightmares in the dying minutes as the home side pressed for the equaliser. But, as it turned out, the visitors finally carried the day courtesy of Ng’ambi’s goals.
Both sides fielded their best possible sides, an indication that they were after a result. For the first time since they started preparations for the new season, the Bullets had their shooting arsenal, Jimmy ‘Ginola’ Zakazaka and Grant ‘Ginte’ Lungu on the starting line up. Absent from the squad was their Nigerian import, Wallace Macauly who is nursing an injury.
The visitors also had James Chimera Junior, Fischer ‘Anong’a’ Kondowe, the Terminator, James Chilapondwa and hero of the day, Ng’ambi in the heart of the pitch. Civo were equally strong in midfield where their lynchpin Joseph ‘Dudu’ Kachule, Young Chimodzi Junior, Pearson Jere and Chisomo ‘Chacho’ Kamlanje were on parade.
But it was in the attack that the home side missed the services of the pint-sized goal poacher, Noel Mkandawire who was injured in their friendly game against Silver Strikers last weekend. The combination of Dayton Chizuze and Sam Phiri was not sharp enough to open the Bullets defence.
But it had to take the Bullets a solid thirty minutes to break down the resilient Civo defence to get things going their way. It all started with Kondowe who had switched positions with Chimera. Kondowe run past Elvis Kafoteka before winning a corner that was converted by Ng’ambi for the opening goal.
Earlier on, Ng’ambi nearly gave his side the lead when, having collected the ball near the half way line, he had a good interchange of passes with Zakazaka and Kondowe but his low drive was saved by Fiskani Mwafulirwa. Civo’s Phiri could only stare in dismay as his header from a Kamlanje curling corner kick sailed slightly over the crossbar.
But as the half time whistle was beckoning, Ng’ambi was on target again. This time he kept his head to beat Mwafulirwa with a glancing header. It was Zakazaka who provided the cross for the robust midfielder to power the ball home from close quarters.
Both sides made several changes in the last half but it was the home side that looked more dangerous particularly after they had scored the face-saver. The coming in of Davie Chirwa, Ganizani Banda and the ever green Chinji Majawa changed the complexion of the game.
It was not surprising to see them score their lone goal in the 77th minute through Banda. Banda’s thudding header from a Kamlanje corner-kick caught the Bullets’ defence napping and Trust Lunda barely saw the ball as it sailed past him into the net.
Civo engaged an extra gear after this goal but the Bullets managed to hung on to their slender lead. In earnest the civil servants were a better side of the two teams in the last half but could not get even.
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