INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY GAME
Red Arrows 2-2 Ngezi Platinum
As the Airmen continue their preseason preparation, the Zambia Airforce sponsored side, Red Arrows played their second competitive friendly of the season against Ngezi Platinum of Zimbabwe .
The game played at Nkoloma on Saturday afternoon ended in a 2all draw with the Zimbabwean outfit twice coming from behind in the game. The stalemate will be viewed as a fair result for both teams.
The Tonderayi Ndiraya coached Ngezi Platinum are no pushovers by many standards though their record of experience at the highest level is relatively new. They made a good account of their maiden premier league league football in Zimbabwe in 2016 and won the country’s top trophy that bought them a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the CAF Confederation Cup 2017 season.
They have not been lazy in the transfer season as they have signed up some top players in the Zimbabwe football scene. The experience as a team lies in the manpower they possess. They are one of the highest paying clubs in Zimbabwe and therefore acquisition of top talent has never been an issue.
Red Arrows having beaten another Zimbabwean side at their traditional home ground should be happy with the outings so far. Kudos to the management for putting up high profile preparatory matches. Its just what new coach Honour Janza could have asked for to test his boys.
Red Arrows took a lead early in the first half, benefiting from an own goal that was as a result of very good play from Shadreck Malambo but it did not take long before the Zimbabwean outfit equalised in midway through the first half.
Festus Mbewe reigniting his form got a second for Arrows described by many as an individual brilliant goal to put the Airmen in front.
The first half would end with Arrows leading.
Second half panned just like the first half, with Platinum managing to keep Arrows at bay but pushing for an equaliser which finally came as a result of a mix up in Red Arrows defence.
Janza should be excited with the two results and hope this form will be translated into the super league which is nearing commencement.
