Blantyre rivals triumph
Nyasa Big Bullets Wednesday moved to the summit of the TNM Super League after beating struggling Ntopwa FC 3-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Few kilometres away at Mpira Stadium, their neighbours Mighty Wanderers also claimed a 2-0 over Red Lions.
Hassan Kajoke’s hattrick was all the People’s Team needed to displace Silver Strikers at the top as the Peoples Team has 42 points, two ahead of the Bankers.
Hit by injuries, Bullets were a changed side, with impressive last man Blessing Mpokera, Misheck Selemani, Eric Kaonga and Precious Phiri all in the first 11.
Kajoke scored the opener in the 18th minute after being fed a nice through-ball by Mkanda.
The exciting Ntopwa were not push overs and tried to contain Bullets but were not clinical enough in front of a goal.
Kajoke came again in the 36th minute to claim a brace from the penalty spot after Ntopwa defender Victor Chirambo handled the ball the box.
Ntopwa were second on the ball and gave Bullets too much freedom to enjoy possession for the better part of the final half.
Kajoke finished his afternoon’s business in added minutes of the game when his powerful shot just outside the danger zone could not be stopped by Kondwani Mwaila in Ntopwa’s goal.
Bullets Assistant Coach Peter Mponda was impressed his team’s fighting spirit.
“The players showed character and zeal to win. They have proved that we have no experienced or young blood because we play as a team.
Now that we are on top, we know that competition is not with Silver only but all teams we will play with,” Mponda said.
Ntopwa Technical Director Isaac Jomo Osman maintained that his team was passing through a bad patch.
“You can see that our play is not that bad. Luck is just not on our side but we will bounce back,” Osman said.
At Mpira Stadium, Francis Mkonda and Misheck Bottomani scored a goal each to give the Nomads an important victory.
Mkonda headed home a Stanley Sanudi freekick to give Wanderers the lead in the 49th minute.
With the win, the Nomads are now third with 34 points from 20 games.
The game was not without drama as Lions played with 12 players for approximately three minutes following Chikoti Chirwa’s substitution.
Mathews Boloweza was supposed to pave the way for Dave Banda but he did not immediately go out as Banda went in.
A moment of madness and anxiety hit Mpira Stadium when Lions attacker Royal Bokosi fell unconscious as Bottomani scored Wanderers’ second.
Peter Fote is a Sports Journalist with huge experience in radio and Television reporting, production and presentation. He once worked with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and is currently working for Times Media Group.
