Red Arrows Football Club returned to winning ways, Friday, 21 August 2026, in style and edged Democratic Republic of Congo outfit AS Simba 1-0 in a hardly contested international pre-season encounter at Arthur Davis Stadium.
Now the Airmen produced a performance laced with character, some hunger and purpose, controlling large spells of the contest and showing from the opening whistle that they were determined to be a team to beat from start to finish.
Arrows began brightly, with Lazarus Chishimba coming close as early as the second minute after brilliantly dummying his marker before seeing his effort drift wide. The Airmen then settled into their rhythm and moved the ball with confidence and precision. Their passing football was crisp, purposeful and pleasing to the eye as they repeatedly looked for openings in the AS Simba defence.
By the 15th minute, the score remained goalless, with both sides sharing the exchanges. Arrows, however, continued to dictate the tempo through intelligent ball circulation and patient build-up play. Ackim Mumba came close on the half hour mark with a powerful drive while Ngwenya produced an audacious bicycle kick from Mumba’s cross in the 40th minute, only for the AS Simba goalkeeper to safely gather.
Paul Katema was then denied at close range by the stead Congolese keeper, shortly before the interval as Arrows continued to knock on their door.
The first half ended goalless but the Airmen had demonstrated enough quality to suggest that the breakthrough was only a matter of time. And when it finally came, it arrived with a bang. A second half change saw Joseph Phiri make way for John Kanyembo Pweto, who was handed his debut for the Airmen. And what a way to announce himself?
In the 58th minute, Pweto picked his spot from distance before unleashing an unstoppable thunderbolt that flew beyond the goalkeeper and left him rooted to the spot and helplessly ball watching. One nil to the Airmen…
Arrows would then push for a second, with Chishimba firing over the bar in the 66th minute while the technical bench continued to refresh the side with Moyela Libamba and Jonathan Mada replacing Godfrey Ngwenya and Lazarous Chishimba.
AS Simba threatened on occasions but the Arrows defence stood firm, Lukas Mainza produced excellent saves with good goal awareness abilities and calmness to preserve the advantage. Further substitutions followed in the closing stages, with Patson Mphade and Lewis Mwachisemo introduced for Brian Chilimina and Ackim Mumba as Arrows managed the game with composure.
A combination of Moyela and Mwachisemo could have earned Arrows another goal thanks to the defensive presence of the Simba defenders. The final whistle confirmed a deserved 1 – 0 victory for Red Arrows. Beyond the scoreline, it was a performance that spoke volumes about the Airmen’s character. They showed hunger, discipline, confidence and a willingness to compete from the first whistle to the last.
Their possession, control and passing were particularly impressive, moving the ball with the kind of authority and fluency that had Copperbelt football fans watching with delight and perhaps a touch of envy.
On a day when the result mattered, Red Arrows delivered. On a day when character was required, they showed it. And on a day when a new man needed to introduce himself, John Kanyembo Pweto chose the loudest possible introduction, a thunderbolt on debut.
Meanwhile, the Pre-Season International Tournament entered its second day today, with matches three and four producing another thrilling round of football at Arthur Davis Stadium. The day’s action began with an intriguing encounter between Power Dynamos and Zesco United, where Zesco United claimed a narrow 1- 0 victory over Power Dynamos to maintain their perfect start to the tournament. Two out of two!
The result saw Zesco United move firmly to the summit of the standings with six points from two matches, having scored two goals and conceded none. The second encounter of the day saw Red Arrows take on AS Simba of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Airmen produced a spirited and disciplined display to secure a hard fought 1- 0 victory to move second with Power Dynamos, same on goals and points.
The final chapter now awaits as action shifts to the friendly city of Ndola tomorrow, Saturday 22, August 2026, at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium which is set to host matches No. 5 and No.6 as the Pre-Season International Tournament reaches its grand finale.
The final two fixtures promise to deliver more intensity, more drama and with the standings so finely balanced, everything appears certainly so, to play for. And Ndola is the place to be? Be there, bring your colours and passion and witness the final battles of the tournament live at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
