26 Aug Coach Ian Bakala Picked Some Positives
After months of preparations the day everyone was finally waiting for arrived last Saturday as Forest Rangers welcomed Kansanshi Dynamos in a Super League Week One fixture.
Expectations were high for both sides in this encounter at Trade Fair Grounds considering that it was the first game of the season.
The game signaled the start of a new era at Forest as Cameroonian central defender Cedric Djeugoue wore the captain’s arm band following the departure of midfielder Laurent Muma to Power Dynamos.
Coach Ian Bakala also took charge of the team for the first from the onset of the season having joined the club with eight matches before the close of last season.
Bakala handed debuts to new players in midfielders Lazarous Chishimba, Gift Lukwesa and Robson Phiri from the start while striker Moyela Libamba was a late replacement for Bornwell Mwape.
Lukwesa and Phiri have joined from Red Arrows and Nchanga Rangers while Chishimba and Libamba have both crossed over from Indeni.
The quartet are among the eight summer arrivals at the club this season.
In a game of few chances,striker Mwape and South African Mpho Mathekgane had chances to find the back of the net in the first half but they could not beat Kansanshi custodian Scotch Mwanza.
The game was evenly poised and with teams failing to create clear cut opportunities, typical of matches that are played immediately after pre-season.
Bakala in a post-match interview said he was impressed with the performance of his charges against Kansanshi but admitted there are still grey areas that needs to be worked on.
“I think they did well because we are just building the team and if you have seen we have youngsters in the team and I think going forward we have seen our mistakes and we need to control them in training,” he said.
The former international expressed concern with the failure by his team to find the target and has promised to work on the striking force.
Bakala however said Forest will be a force to reckon with after four matches as the team is still blending together following the arrival of new players.
“Obvious case we have to challenge for the title.We are not a passover team.I think in the next four games you are going to see changed team because these youngsters are just coming up and they need to gel in this league and after four games you are going to see a good team.
Forest were playing their first match at Trade Fair since announcing the change of base from Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The team will only use the magnificent facility for matches that will be televised on SuperSport.
Forest’ next game has been moved from Wednesday as initially scheduled to Saturday 27th August,2022 against Bakala’s former employers Kabwe Warriors at Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium.
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