Ekhaya Reserves continued their dominant form in the ThumbUp Southern Region Football League with a resounding 3-0 victory over Zingwangwa United at Mpira Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bernardo Mofolo, Captain Fatsani Juwawo, and Limbikani Kutambe won the opening half for us before Paul Phiri sealed the win in the second half.
How it happened
The game began at a blistering pace, with Ekhaya Reserves immediately setting the tone. Within the opening minute, they pinned the visitors deep in their own half, applying high pressure and playing with intensity and flair.
By the 5th minute, that pressure paid off. Yusuf Namtunga showed brilliant anticipation to dispossess a Zingwangwa midfielder and quickly released Bernado Mofolo, who surged forward and orchestrated a promising attack, keeping the visitors on their heels.
The breakthrough came in the 12th minute. Ekhaya’s continued attacks earned a corner, which Mofolo whipped in superbly. Captain Juwwas rose highest in the box to nod it home, marking his third goal in three straight matches. The skipper’s consistency and leadership continue to be pivotal in Ekhaya’s title charge.
Just six minutes later, it was 2-0. Zingwangwa had no response to Ekhaya’s relentless pressure. Limbani Kutambe, who was a pre-match injury doubt, shrugged off any concerns with a composed finish, stretching the lead and deepening the visitors’ woes.
From that point on, the game was largely one-sided. Zingwangwa managed to show brief signs of resilience as halftime approached, but the damage had already been done. The teams went into the break with Ekhaya comfortably leading 2-0.
The second half brought more of the same in terms of control and tempo. Though the goals were harder to come by after the restart, Ekhaya never looked threatened.
Their dominance paid off again in the 66th minute with a beautifully crafted third goal. In-form striker Samson Zakeyu, who has been on a remarkable scoring run, combined neatly with Paul Phiri in a quick one-two, allowing Phiri to slot home the third and final goal of the afternoon.
Zingwangwa’s only real chance came late in the game, when their captain unleashed a powerful shot, but goalkeeper Alex Juma was alert and produced a fine save to keep a deserved clean sheet. 4-0 it ended.
What It Means
The victory extends Ekhaya Reserves’ lead at the top of the table to six points. With 13 matches played, the young side has amassed 33 points, further establishing themselves as strong contenders for the title.
Manager’s Reaction
“Creating this gap at the top will do us a lot of good, but we cannot become complacent. We need to keep the momentum,” said Autry Kalulu post-match.
What’s Next
Ekhaya Reserves will return to action soon with another crucial league fixture. Only two matches remain in the first round, and the team will be looking to maintain their impressive form and finish the phase on a high.
