Number one start in 2022 beckons for Arrows

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Jan 04, 2022. 16:00

Red Arrows have an opportunity to start 2022 at number one on Wednesday when they host Indeni at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Arrows ended the year in second place after rising from fifth following a 2-1 away win over Zanaco on December 31 in what was this campaigns’ final league game of 2021.

That win also saw Arrows move one point behind Green Buffaloes who have set the pace since Week Four of the 2021/2022 FAZ Super League campaign.

Arrows Coach Chisi Mbewe said with 2022 ABSA Cup qualification secured in the first half of the season, they can now switch focus to their next objective in the final seventeen games.

“At the beginning of the season, we set our targets and goals and so far we have managed with one which is qualifying for the ABSA cup,” Chisi said.

“Now we have to see if we can at least win the league. The boys are responding well and if we continue the same way we are going then we would be able to manage our goals.”

Chisi is again banking on 42-year-old striker and 2012 AFCON winner James Chamanga to lead the charge this Wednesday.

Chamanga scored a brace in Friday’s Lusaka derby that saw Arrows rally from one-down to defeat Zanaco.

He is currently Arrows joint top scorer with Ricky Banda on 5 goals so far this season after sixteen games played.

“Djemba (Chamanga) is one person who always enjoys scoring and he also enjoys working extra hard. I can only say it is like an in-born thing for him,” Chisi added.

Meanwhile, victory for Arrows’ in their mid-week date against fourth from bottom Indeni would be excellent fuel to take into Saturday’s home game against defending league champions Zesco United.

Arrows are a point ahead of Zesco whom they relegated to third place following that win on New Year’s Eve.