STRIKER Evans Kangwa on Wednesday made headlines, this time around for the right reasons after scoring a brace in Zambia’s 2-1 win over the Cranes of Uganda in an international friendly at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The Nkana player has of late made wrong headlines ranging from going A.W.O.L (absent without official leave) to self-imposed exile that saw him miss out on playing football since the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers last year.
But the player made a return to Nkana where he has proved to be still a lethal striker as evidenced after he scored in the 3-1 demolition of Red Arrows in the Charity Shield final.
I am sure Nkana would have loved to have Kangwa in Kampala to help with the tough task ahead of them. Many fans could be heard on Saturday at Arthur Davies Stadium saying how they wished Kangwa was playing in the CAF competition.
Sadly, the player is not playing for Nkana in the 2014 CAF Champions League campaign as he was not registered on time but hopefully may join the Zambian champions should they reach the lucrative group stage.
The performance by Kangwa goes to show that the player still has the killer-instinct in front of the goal but all he lacks is a proper manager to help him through his career.
Who thought the player would reach this level having not played competitive football for some time? Patrice Beaumelle kept faith in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner because he understands the impact he can make in a game.
While it is well known that Kangwa’s desire has been to play professional football outside the country, it will be best for his handlers to equally advise him on the need not to rush but work hard until that deal is clinched.
The onus now will be on Beaumelle to see how best he can harness such promising talent to become the core players of the Chipolopolo and replace the aging legs.
There is need to have fresh blood in the team, players with desire to achieve something. Otherwise, I am sure Beaumelle can now breathe some sigh of relief following his win over Uganda – the first game of 2014 played at home.
Finally, I would like to encourage Nkana to work hard if they are to get that result against Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) in Uganda tomorrow.
The 2-2 draw at Arthur Davies Stadium should be forgotten and the players should take the return leg as if it is a final to advance to the next stage.
Equally, Zesco United should up their game and dispatch Ferroviarrio da Beira of Mozambique by scoring goals and avoid the visitors doing the same. Zesco got a good result away but this time they need to get the goals to progress.
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