Shonga saluted for inspiring Nkwazi to victory

Justin Shonga received massive praise from his coach after scoring a brace in Nkwazi’s first win of the season in Sunday’s 4-0 away victory over Buildcon.

Shonga’s brace at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola came in just his second game back at the Zambian club that catapulted his career following five years abroad that took him from South Africa to Egypt.

The brace also saw Shonga score his first goals since rejoining Nkwazi.

Nkwazi had, before beating Buildcon, picked up just 2 points and scored one goal in their opening five games.

SHONGA COACH PROUD

“I think this is a very big step looking at our previous performances. I think it is a massive boost,” Nkwazi coach Dennis Makinka said. 

“We are happy to have Shonga back; I always had faith in him; I knew this is what we were lacking; someone with composure, someone with an eye for goal.

“So we are happy we have him back. He is helping even the young boys in terms of his experience who are looking up to him.

“He is also helping the technical staff, and on the pitch, he is also issuing out instructions.”

Shonga converted a 5^th-minute penalty after his teammate Kenneth Kasanga was brought down by Buildcon defender Boleke Weta.

The Chipolopolo striker’s second goal came in the 29th minute when he delivered a fine curling shot from the edge of the box.

Shonga’s goals gave Nkwazi a two-nil halftime lead, and he was later substituted in the 73rd minute.

Nkwazi’s final goals came after that, with Elias Kazangarare making it three-nil in the 87th minute and Christopher Zulu completing the victory in stoppage time.

The victory lifts Nkwazi two places from 17th to 15th and tied on 5 points with Nkana, who drop one spot to 16th.

Buildcon is 18^th, and the bottom-placed side is now the only team without a win this season on 1 point from five games played with a match in hand.