Ekhaya FC Reserve demonstrated their resilience and competitive quality after coming from behind to hold former Super League champions and NBS National Division League Mighty Tigers to a 2-2 draw in a second-round preparation match at Chiwembe Stadium on Wednesday.
The result offered an encouraging assessment of the reserves’ readiness for the second half of their Finca ‘Mpira Uyake’ Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Division One League campaign, as they matched a Mighty Tigers side competing in the NBS National Division League.
Ekhaya showed their attacking intent early on, with Davie Chinkhwangwa finding the net in the first half. However, Mighty Tigers responded with two goals to take a 2-1 advantage into the break.
Ekhaya Reserves responded by making wholesale changes at the start of the second half, a tactical adjustment that quickly paid dividends.
Hastings Malinda came off the bench to restore parity within five minutes of the restart, bringing Ekhaya Reserves back into the contest and setting up a closely fought second half.
Both sides pushed for a winning goal, but neither could find the breakthrough as the match ended in a draw.
Beyond the scoreline, the encounter provided Ekhaya Reserve with a valuable test against opposition with experience at a higher level of the domestic game. Holding a former Super League champion now competing in the NBS National Division League will offer the youngsters confidence as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
Mapulanga said the match formed part of the team’s preparations for the second round of the Finca ‘Mpira Uyake’ SRFA Division One League.
“It was a good game for us altho we didn’t win and exactly match we needed as we prepare for the second round. we gave everyone an opportunity to get minutes of the game. We did this because we wanted to look for some areas that we need to improve before the league resumes” he said
“What matters is that the players are getting into the right channel, and we have seen areas where we need to work on before our open fixture,” he said.
Ekhaya Reserve will now turn their attention to the league campaign, which gets underway for them on Saturday when they face Mighty Wanderers Reserve at Chiwembe Stadium.
After demonstrating their ability to fight back against Mighty Tigers, the reserves will be eager to carry that resilience into their competitive fixtures with their campaign set to resume next weekend.
