17 Jan FOREST’S CURSE OF DRAWS
Although the season is barely two matches in the second half, Forest Rangers have continued stringing draws which have now risen to 10 this campaign, the second highest in the league at this juncture of the season. They are just 7 away from matching last seasons record of 17 draws out of a total of 34 games.
Ian Bakala’s men may have only lost twice so far but if we turn those 10 draws into wins it would have been a different story as 20 valuable could have been gained instead of dropped.
After a 2-all draw against Kansanshi Dynamos, Forest were expected to register a win but settled for a 1-all draw with Kabwe Warriors.
In the last two games, Forest have had to do without the services of regular fullbacks Leonard Makonga and Dieugo Apanane who are nursing injuries.
And the duo’ absence has been evident in the two matches and Bakala has felt it.
“We are missing a right and left back, which is why Gift Lukwesa an attacking midfielder was forced to play in that position and Zimba is old now and doesn’t have the energy he used to have, plus he hasn’t played a match in a long time,” said Bakala after Forest held relegation threatened Warriors to a 1-all draw at Trade Fair Ground last Saturday.
Warriors went into the fixture last week on a backdrop of 1-0 victory against Nkana and put up a spirited fight laced with confidence in Ndola.
It was that confidence that pushed them to draw first blood through a well taken Bartuel Tembo effort from the edge of the box that dipped beyond the reach of keeper Allan Chibwe.
The visitors dominated the match, reducing Forest with little or no action in front of goal in the first half.
Against the run of play, Forest top scorer Moyela Libamba drew the home side level from the spot in the 43rd minute after one of the visitors’ defenders was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
In the second half both teams failed to find the target for them to share spoils.
Warriors have recorded 11 draws which is the highest as of Week 18.
Draw meant that Forest downgraded to second position from third on the log with 31 points at par with MUZA.
Forest’ next fixture is against town mates Buildcon on Saturday at Trade Fair Grounds.
Forest Rangers’ Starting XI:
Allan Chibwe, Gift Lukwesa, Masauso Zimba, Cedric Djeugoue,Chitoshi Chinga, Joe Banda (Benson Kolala 38′), Eric Chomba, Lazarous Chishimba, Moro Amenu, Moyela Libamba (Bornwell Mwape 82), Monday Bwalya (Robson Phiri 38′)
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