Forest Rangers crowned Absa champions, beat MUZA 2-0

Forest Rangers coach, Ian Bakala, says winning the 2022/2023 Absa Cup is great consolation for missing out on continental following an emphatic 2-0 victory against MUZA at a fully packed Woodlands Stadium.

An own goal from Chanda Chileshe and one from Quadri Kola were enough to hand Forest Rangers their maiden Absa Cup title.

Speaking during the post-match interview, Bakala said being crowned Absa champions was consolation for missing out on continental football and the league title.

“I am proud of this team and excited to finally lay our hands in the Absa Cup. It was a dream and winning it as a young coach means a lot,” Bakala said this was after the Ndola outfits were crowned the 2022/2023 Absa Cup Champions.

“I am proud of the team’s performance. We planned and knew MUZA was going to underrate us. The mentality of the players and approach we had wasthe on cloud now.

“It was a cup final and usually, players turn to give their best and that is what they did. We wanted it more and winning this trophy gives us confidence going into next season. The target was to win the Absa and the League title but the league eluded us,” Bakala said.

Bakala also paid tribute to his mentor Wedson Nyirenda, for the role he played in his coaching career.

” I also want to pay a special tribute to my mentor Wedson Nyirenda. He taught me a secret on how to win such titles. He has made me who I am today, he gave me a secret and that secret worked. I think he must be proud wherever he is. His input made me the coach I am today,” said Bakala.

His counterpart Lameck Banda described the loss as painful.

“It’s a painful defeat, looking at what the boys had put in. The boys gave their all but it was not enough. It’s a young team and coming this far is no mean achievement. What cost us is miscommunication at the back otherwise it was a great game,” said Banda.

Trident’s Babe Mukabanga was voted player of the tournament, Forest Ranger’s Daniel Mushinemu was voted goalkeeper of the tournament and each walked away with a K25,000 prize money while Cephas Mulombwa pocketed K25,000 after finishing as tournament top scorer with two goals.

The Man of the match award was presented to Forest Ranger’s Amono Meru for his exploits that played a critical role in dismantling the MUZA defense to walk away with K15,000.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Forest Rangers, off proceedings in their favourite colour all-yellow while MUZA was dressed in Red tops and black shorts.

It was a fast-pressing game between the two sides in the first 10 minutes, with both teams creating scoring opportunities.

Forest took an early lead just after 16 minutes, thanks to a Chanda Chileshe own goal after he misjudged his clearance into his own net after he was put under pressure by Diego Apanane.

Substitute Shadreck Malambo had a chance to double the lead for the Ndola based siballoonedallooned his effort after he was put through by Quadri Kola in the 35th minute.

The Bakala tutored side continued to dictate play, creating numerous scoring opportunities with Moro Amenu missing a sitter in front of goal two minutes later.

MUZA had a chance to level scores in the 40th minute but Emmanuel Manda shot wide after benefiting from from a Andrew Phiri ball, who had made a solo-run dribbled past his marker before releasing the ball.

The atmosphere became electric as MUZA seemed to have settled and taken control of the midfield with their fast passing game with the attack in the 44th minute almost paying off.

VAR was called to action when Amenu thought he had doubled the lead for Forest in the 50th minute but VAR ruled the goal out indicating there was a foul in the build up to the goal committed by Shadreck Malambo.

Finally, Kola doubled the lead for Forest with a fantastic strike, when he controlled the ball, turned between two defenders before unleashing a scrumptious strike to beat Ndala to the far post after 63 minutes of play.

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