• KABWE Warriors’ Clement Mwape keeps Napsa Stars’ Fred Musinde at arm’s length as he shields the ball during a Week-17 Premier division fixture at Nkoloma stadium that Napsa won 1-0 to go eight points clear on top of the table. Picture BY GODFREY DUBE

By MUNAMBEZA MUWANEI At Independence Stadium –
Eagles 2 Nkana 0
NKANA yesterday pulled off a publicity stunt where they lined-up suspended Walter Bwalya to play in this game but withdrew him minutes before kick-off  with club president Evaristo Kabila blaming failed appearance of the Congolese forward on delayed clearance from FAZ.
After this defeat that left coach Beston Chambeshi fuming, Kabila said Bwalya’s contentious International Transfer Certificate (ITC) had finally been sent which made him eligible to play but only that it got cleared by FAZ minutes after the 15:00 kick-off.
“The ITC was sent and this is all that was needed but FAZ cleared it a bit late and this meant our player could not play but otherwise, he should have played. We now hope all will be done during the week,” said Kabila.
Coach Chambeshi was angered at changing the line-up minutes before kick-off and called on club executive to quickly resolve the issues as it was disturbing his training and game plan.
Bwalya even warmed-up in readiness for play in this Week-17 fixture in Choma but was suddenly withdrawn, a move Chambeshi said affected his team psychologically.
“The executive should sort out the problem on Walter as he was in the game plan and the change affected the rest of the players,” said Chambeshi while his counterpart George Chilufya, sent to the stands in the dying moments, said his players were psyched to beat Nkana regardless of their big name in Zambian football.
“It is nice to be associated with success.  We are taking each game as it comes, we did the best that we could do to overcome Nkana,” he said.
This was after Eagles chalked the score sheet in the 36th minute through Collins Mulenga who finished off a Venacious Mapande cross while Nkana added up another goal for Eagles through Diego Apanane own-goal  in the 47th minute.
The result sees Nkana drop one places on the table to fifth on 25 points, same as Green Buffaloes who play today at Forest Rangers
Napsa 1 Warriors 0
And from Nkoloma Stadium, ADRIAN MWANZA writes that Napsa Stars went eight points clear at the top of the log, thanks to a first half stoppage time strike from Mukuma Chitoshi.
Napsa Stars coach remained level headed after the win saying despite the huge lead, he will not relax as each team was working hard to beat his charges
“Our next fixture is away against Nakambala, we expect a tough game because our opponents will be working hard to ensure that they beat us but we are aiming at getting maximum points,” he said.
His vanquished opposite Elijah Chikwanda expressed disappointment with the result saying; “It is not a good result but we are going to try to improve our game if we are to remain viable in the league,” he said.
This was after Napsa dominated the early exchanges ad saw Chitiya Mususu strike being saved by Warriors goalie Lawrence Mulenga on eight minutes before Collins Sikombe shot wide 20 minutes later.
Napsa broke the deadlock in the dying minutes of the first-half when substitute Mukuma Chitoshi pounced on a loose ball to unleash a cracker that proved decisive.
Warriors were the more determined in the second half but a resolute Napsa defence held strong t confirm the three points that took them to 34 points, eight clear of Power Dynamos and Lusaka Dynamos.
Power 3 Lumwana 1
POWER Dynamos yesterday jumped into second position on the MTN-FAZ premier table after this straight forward win over Solwezi side Lumwana Radiants, reports Kalumiana  Kalumiana from Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
A Luka Lungu brace that was sandwiched by Alex Ng’onga’s first goal back at Power handed them all three points as they continue to recover from their first loss  of the season on June 24 when Green Buffaloes beat them 1-0.
This was the Kitwe side’s second straight win after defeating City of Lusaka similar scoreline a fortnight ago.
In yesterday’s game, Lungu put Power ahead in the eighth minute off a Benson Sakala pass and could have seen Kelvin Mubanga added the second in the 39th minute but the exciting midfielder sent his shot off the post.
Five minutes later Ng’onga tapped in Lungu’s cross to score his first goal back just two seasons after he left Arthur Davies for Gabonese club CS Mounana.
But deep in stoppage time of the first half, Josphat Kasusu pulled one back for Lumwana when he guided in a Hosea Silwimba corner but heartache came when Lungu completed his brace in the 77th minute when Ng’onga returned the favour to seal the three points.
Power are now on 26 points, same as Lusaka Dynamos who play today but eight off pace setters Napsa stars
Buildcon 2 City 0
A Chavda Maisha brace was enough for Buildcon to clinch maximum points against struggling City of Lusaka writes Ndinawe Simpelwe from Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Maisha scored either side of the break to give Buildcon its first win in three matches and move to 22 points while City remained winless in 12 matches and have just 10 points.
Maisha’s first came in the 37th minute when he was nicely set up by a Patient Mwepu cross to head in and repeated the act in the second half, this time benefiting from a Clifton Mihesu cross to head in his second after City failed to deal with a quick counter attack.
But City had a goal disallowed in the 70th after Dominic Mulenshi forced the ball to cross line following a mistake by goalkeeper Scot Ngokene but the referee blew for a foul.
Blades 3 Nakambla 0
KONKOLA Blades homeboy Lewington Mujembe started life as coach of the club with an emphatic win at home to Nakambala Leopards to improve shine light at hopes of dodging the relegation back to Division One, RONALD CHAWE writes.
Victor Mubanga opened the scoring on 38 minutes for the host before the interval and after the break, Ashad Mwale doubled the advantage on 65 minute for a conformable lead.
Moses Menda put the icing on the cake when netted the third goal in the 81st minute to jump four places on the log to 14th on 17 points.
Wanderers 1-1 Rangers
At Shinde Stadium Rahim Osumanu’s goal deep into the second half denied 10 man Nchanga Rangers maximum points.
Adams Zikiru had put the visitors ahead in the 55th minute but the striker turned from hero to villain as he was shown a straight red card by referee Stanley Hachiwa in teh 72nd minute.
Wanderers made use of teh numerical advantage and forced a draw when Osumanu scored with nine minutes before full time.
Wanderers are on 18th position with 14 points whileRAnger  are 16th with 16 points.