. Kangwa

By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA –

NKANA top striker, Evans Kangwa is in a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s 2014 CAF Confederation Cup Group B tie against Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast.

The Chipolopolo striker sustained an ankle injury in last Saturday’s opening Group B tie away to Al Ahly that the Egyptian side won 2-0 in Cairo.

Nkana coach Masautso Mwale said in an interview that he was optimistic Kangwa will shrug off his injury in time for match-day-two of the competition.

“On Kangwa, I hope he recovers we will look at him in the afternoon,” Mwale said.

“He has a knock near the ankle that he sustained in Egypt.

“He went to see a doctor yesterday after training but he felt the pain in training.

“We have up to Friday so he might recover.”

Kangwa sat out Wednesday training at Nkana Stadium yesterday.

And Festus Mbewe has returned to Nkana following the expiry of his six-month loan stint at demoted South African side Golden Arrows.

Mbewe reported back for training yesterday morning at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.

Mwale said he was excited to have Mbewe back, who is also registered for the club’s 2014 continental competition.

Mwale added that he would assess whether Mbewe could play in this weekend’s Confederation Cup home match against Ivorians Sewe Sport.

“You know he fought for this CAF competition and he has to play in it and finish it,”

“We are so excited that he is back he will add depth to our team. We missed a player like Festus, he is influential and it is good for Nkana.

“We have to assess his fitness levels because he has not been playing from the time they wound-up the season.”

He scored 13 goals last season to help Nkana lift a an unprecedented 12th league title.

Mbewe said he was looking forward to playing again for the 12-time champions and is excited to see them qualify for the group stage.

“It feels nice more especially that the team I left is still doing fine,” Mbewe said.

“I’m not guaranteed that I will play this Saturday because I have not played for the last two weeks.”