By SANDRA MWILA and SHAMAOMA MUSONDA  –

At Nkoloma Stadium
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu was yesterday impressed with the standards of the game after watching the 2015 Barclays Cup final between two defence forces sides, Green Buffaloes and Nkwazi in Lusaka.
The President, who was accompanied by Sports Minister Vincent Mwale, said he was happy with the improving football standards in the country.
Buffaloes beat Nkwazi 2-0 to win their first-ever Barclays Cup which was given to them by President Lungu, who is their Commander-In-Chief.
President Lungu said that both teams played good football and was to add that he was supporting both teams and congratulated Buffaloes for the victory over their fellow defence force side.
“It was a good game, both teams played well. I was supporting both teams and the standards of the game have improved,” President Lungu said.
The final was watched by Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya and his committee members that had Kelvin Mutafu missing following his resignation on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Buffaloes captain Christopher Katongo said he was happy to lead his side to winning the first-ever Barclays Cup.
Katongo said he was a hero and bragged that he had left an impact wherever he had gone. He said the competition was tough and was glad his team emerged victorious.
“I am happy I have led the team to the firstever Barclays Cup title. It was not easy but wherever I go I manage to lift something,” said Katongo, who inspired the Chipolopolo to the first Africa Cup win in 2012 in Gabon.
Coach Bilton Musonda, who was voted the coach-of-the-tournament and was awarded K10,000, was excited with his team’s performance, especially that the match was tough.
“I am very excited, it was a tough game but my boys played well and deserved to win. It’s good to end the year with a Cup after working hard all the year,” Musonda said in a post-match interview.
His opposite number Elijah Chikwanda said it was sad to lose such a game after creating chances.
“The game was tough and the team was a bit wasteful, our aim was to kill off the game early enough but we ended up conceding two silly goals and it was sad to lose like that,” Chikwanda said.
Buffaloes became only the fifth team to win the Barclays Cup since its inception in 2007 alongside previous winners Zesco United, Power Dynamos, Napsa Stars and Red Arrows.