The Military derby between Red Arrows and Green Eagles delivered exactly what the badge demands, grit, fire, crunching tackles and enough tension to shake the parade grounds.
The opening exchanges felt like two battalions sizing each other up in the fog of battle. But by the 10th minute, Red Arrows had begun circling their targets with intent and probed Green Eagles’ defensive lines like fighter jets searching for a vulnerable point to strike in enemy airspace.
Then came lift-off on 15’ when Angel Lubamba ignited the derby. After twisting past his marker with outrageous footwork, the forward was hacked down on the edge of the danger zone. Up stepped Kangwanda with ice in his veins. His delivery loped over the defensive lines like a missile awaiting detonation…and Lubamba actually did, with a timed hard press to thunder home an exquisite finish into the top corner.
The Eagles backline stood frozen. The keeper? Statuesque. The crowd? Absolute bedlam.
The green soldiers tried to respond. Former Red Arrows loanee from the visitors Derrick Bulaya nearly caught Kalumba sleeping after a dangerous nod inside the box while another former player on loan from Eagles, George Chaloba kept firing speculative artillery from range.
On the other hand, Ackim Mumba became a menace down the flank where he raided the wings repeatedly and forced corners like a gunner knocking out then one by one in battle.
However, as the half wore on, the derby lost its rhythm but found its violence. Midfield became a warzone.Flying tackles. Late challenges. Bodies crashing. Tempers simmering and so on so and so hard. The football match was now like trenched warfare in boots.
Every 50-50 was treated like classified territory. Neither side wanted to surrender an inch of grass. Referees blew whistles like battlefield sirens as fouls piled up before finally the centre man signalled for the break.
The Airmen marched into the break with a slender lead but the war was far from been won.
Second half also saw some more drama. Kalumba was forced off with a suspected ankle bite from normal play, and Jeban Tembo was quickly drafted into active duty between the sticks.
