Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh SC are praising their Malawian star Chikumbutso Salima for inspiring them to a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Al-Hilal in Kigali, Rwanda, on Tuesday night.
Obino Chisala opened the scores for Al-Merrikh just seconds before the half time whistle before Giles Razafimaro added the second from the spot in the 66th minute after Salima was brought down in the box as he tried to find his way past a defender.
In a post on their Facebook page, Al- Merrikh described Salima as a rising star.
“With a fierce and electrifying performance, our rising star Chikumbutso Salima earned Man of the Match honours in the epic showdown between Al-Merrikh and Al-Hilal. Keep charging forward, the best is yet to come,” the post reads.
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The former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets star’s reaction to the award, through his Facebook page, was simple: “God did [it].”
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Malawi National Football Team legendary striker Lawrence Waya said Salima replicates what he used to do in his days.
“He dribbles like I used to. I just do not know how he does it because he never watched me play [football]. But I see myself in him every time I watch him play. I first met him when he was called up for national duties and he introduced himself to me. He said he started his football [career] at my academy in Mzuzu but I was in South Africa then. I never trained him at any time. So it is surprising that he is doing just what I used to,” Waya said.
Al-Merrikh and Al- Hilal are competing in Rwanda’s Premier League because of the civil war in their country.
The result took Al- Merrikh to third on the table with 37 points from 19 matches.
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Al-Hilal are at the summit of the table with APR FC, who lie second due to an inferior goal difference despite playing three more matches.
Al-Merrikh’s next match is against AS Kigali on Sunday.
Salima joined Bullets Reserves from Lawrence Waya Academy in Mzuzu in 2022 before being loaned out to former Super League side Bangwe All Stars a year later.
In 2024, Bullets promoted him to the first team, where he scored 29 goals and provided 31 assists in 69 matches across all competitions.
The 24-year-old was named the TNM Super League Player of the Season following his five-star performances for Bullets, which saw him sharing the golden boot award with forward Babatunde Adepoju— having scored 15 goals each.
The Flames midfielder also provided 13 assists in the 28 Super League matches he played.
Salima’s move to Al- Merrikh was announced on January 19 after his exploits caught the attention of other continental giants such as Simba SC of Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo side TP Mazembe, who also have former Bullets stars Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma.
