13 Feb FOREST’S EPIC RETURN TO DOLA HILL
After 7 years, Forest Rangers have finally returned home to Dola Hill Stadium.
With so much hype created around their return, the Dola Hill Community were eager to watch their team, Pa Mphanga yabo (as the like to refer to it).
The date was set and it was Chambishi who were feeling the pressure knowing the number of fans Forest Rangers would possibly have at their first home game.
Prior to the match, the team trained at the stadium twice and they were excited to be back to a place they could finally call their own.
Captain Cedric Djeugoue said he and his teammates were very happy to be back home.
“We are excited to be back home and we would like to thank the EXCO and management for everything they have done, this place looks nice, the dressing rooms are nice and the pitch is nice too, it looks like we are going to enjoy playing at home.
All the players are happy to be back and what would make it even better, is if we won our first match as a way to welcome the fans. ” said the Cameroonian Captain.
Into the match, as the Stadium filled up slowly, it was the home side who looked more likely to score but 30 minutes into the game and there was still no goal to show for their efforts.
But regardless of the scoreline, the fans were simply excited to watch their team playing in their backyard and hence they couldn’t stop cheering.
In added time of first half , Moyela Libamba finally scored the opener from a well executed freekick outside the box, beating Rodwell Mulungishi. The whole stadium erupted with joy and the team walked off the pitch for their half time break confident of giving the fans a grand opening to remember.
In the second half, Chambishi had a similar chance, but Shadreck Musonda’s freekick went over the bar. A few minutes later, Libamba completed his brace from a cross whipped in by Eric Chomba, doubling the lead for the home side.
These two goals were very important for Moyela because they brought his goal tally to 11, at par with the current Top scorer Kennedy Musonda who moved across the country to Yanga FC in Tanzania. Now, Libamba can confidently say he is ahead in the race to get to the golden boot.
These two goals gave Forest everything they envisaged in Week 23:
1) 3 points
2) A grand opening their fans will never forget
3) 2 points closer to the log leaders
4) Countries Leading top scorer
5) The only team in the top 8 to record a victory in week 23 MTN Super League.
In a post interview, Bakala said he was delighted with the turn out at their first home match.
“It’s so nice to see the fans turn up in numbers, because we didn’t see such numbers at Trade Fair or Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, now that we are back we just hope the fans will continue to turn up in such numbers” said Coach Ian Bakala.
3 points at home has moved Forest to 41 points, 2 points closer to log leaders Power Dynamos who are at 43 points after their draw at home against neighbours ZESCO United.
No Comments