By Flata Kavinga
Hardrock FC staged a stunning comeback to beat visiting MWOS FC 3-2 at Chahwanda Stadium this afternoon, overturning a two-goal deficit to keep their Premier Soccer League championship hopes alive.
MWOS looked firmly in control after taking a 2-0 lead through Arthur Banda and Nigel Makumbe, but Hardrock responded with three goals from Gerald Takwara, Thubelihle Mavuso and Munashe Bamala to complete a memorable comeback.
The victory underlined Hardrock’s fighting spirit in a thrilling encounter, with head coach Kelvin Kaindu praising his players for refusing to give up when the stakes were high.
Kaindu said belief and determination were central to the comeback, adding that his charges had worked hard to put themselves in contention and could not afford to falter at a crucial stage of the season.
“The message that I gave them is the ability to believe in ourselves. We have worked very, very hard for us to come and lose it when it really matters. And they haven’t disappointed. We came back strong,” he said.
The Hardrock coach singled out Bamala’s goal for special praise, describing it as a defining moment in the match.
Kaindu also acknowledged MWOS’ threat, saying the visitors had capitalised on defensive mistakes to take a commanding position before his side fought back.
“They capitalised on the few mistakes that we made in both goals that we conceded. But I’m happy with the build-up, I’m happy with the way we scored. We played well and we showed the character that we deserve to be champions,” he said.
The win comes as Hardrock seek to maintain their challenge for the league title, with Kaindu pointing to victories in difficult matches against Dynamos and MWOS as evidence of his team’s resilience.
However, he acknowledged that the club must also manage injuries and maintain focus as the season approaches its decisive stages.
Hardrock have also shifted attention to the Chibuku Super Cup after exiting the league cup competition, with Kaindu saying his team would balance its remaining commitments while seeking further silverware.
“We’ve got a few injuries, even after today’s game, but I saw how much effort that we put in, especially in the second half, for us to get the victory,” he said.
Meanwhile, MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa admitted his team had let slip an opportunity to collect maximum points after establishing a two-goal advantage.
Mutasa said his charges had started well and executed their game plan but failed to manage the match after taking the lead.
“I think it was a good game. We took the lead. A game we thought was in our hands. I’m sure we let go of a game we thought we could have taken three points,” he said.
The MWOS coach said conceding three goals in one half was particularly disappointing, adding that the defeat offered lessons for his team.
“We had a very good game plan. We took the lead but we failed to manage the game as a team. When everything happens, everything goes back to me as a coach. I say probably we missed it,” Mutasa said.
- For Hardrock, the comeback victory provides a timely boost to their title ambitions, while MWOS will be left to reflect on a match in which a commanding position ultimately yielded no points.
