Ex-Pirates star Shonga brace hands Nkwazi first league win

Justin Shonga on Sunday inspired Nkwazi to their first league victory of the season after scoring a brace in a 4-0 away win over Buildcon.

This was Shonga’s second game since rejoining his childhood club where he earned his name before heading to Orlando Pirates in 2017.

Shonga’s first goal at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola was a penalty that Nkwazi won when Kenneth Kasanga was pushed by Boleke Weta in an aerial duel for the ball.

The Chipolopolo Zambia striker stepped up to send the ball right and Buildcon goalkeeper Benson Mwale dived left to open his goal account for  Nkwazi.

SHONGA HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

However, Buildcon were the better team but sadly only had possession to show for it and as Nkwazi goalkeeper Charles Muntanga barely tested the hosts.

Shonga’s second goal came in the 29th minute when he blasted in a volley from the edge of the box off Henry Besa’s shot pass into his path.

Before Shonga’s brace, Nkwaz has scored just one goal in their opening five games of the 2022/2023 season.

But Shonga thereafter had a quiet game and the Chipolopolo striker was substituted in the 73rd minute when he was replaced by Crawford Mwaba.

Shonga’s absence was not a factor and Nkwazi added two more goals that came in the final three minutes of the game.

Elisa Kazangarare added the third goal in the 87th minute and Christopher Zulu completed the job in stoppage time both goals from close range

Nkwazi stays in the bottom four relegation zone despite Shonga’s brace but crawls from 17th to 16th on 5 points, tied on points with Nkana who are 15 with a better goal difference.

Buildcon is rooted at the bottom of the log and remains winless this season with 1 point from five games with a match in hand after suffering their second straight defeat.