Down to the wire
The gap between TNM Super League leaders, Be Forward Wanderers, and second-placed Nyasa Big Bullets is still one point after the Blantyre giants drew their matches by 1-1 margins against Silver Strikers and Civil Sporting Club, respectively, Sunday.
Wanderers led 1-0 through Jafali Chande’s 54th minute goal until the 81st minute when Righteous Banda equalised for Civil at Balaka Stadium. At Kalulu Stadium, Nelson Kangunje of Bullets cancelled out Matthews Sibale’s goal for Silver.
Wanderers have 59 points from 26 games, one point ahead of Bullets, who have played a game more. Silver remain third with 52 points from 27 games, and Civil are fifth with 42 points from 27 games.
Wanderers are yet to play against Masters Security FC, Dwangwa United, Mzuni and Red Lions whereas Bullets will meet Dwangwa, Mafco and Masters. Kamuzu Barracks, Mafco and Civil are the next opponents for Silver.
At Kalulu, Bullets failed to convert their early chances as Mussa Manyenje, Muhammad Sulumba and Nelson Kangunje had their kicks saved by Silver keeper, Steve Micheta
The league’s leading scorer, Sibale, made use of a chance he had in the 35th minute when he headed into the net a cross from Thuso Paipi.
The goal forced Bullets’ coaches, Rodgers Yasin and Elia Kananji, to introduce Bright Munthali for Manyenje before the end of the first-half.
Munthali’s introduction yielded good results just a minute into the second half when his header hit the goal post, thereby giving Kangunje a chance to finish off the rebound and level the scores.
Kananji, in a post-match interview, said luck was not on their side whereas Silver Team Manager, Francis Songo, said his boys deserved to win, but a draw was not a bad result.
At Balaka, both teams failed to play their usual passing game as they resorted to kick-and-rush aerial balls.
The first half ended goalless. However, in the 54th minute, Wanderers scored through Chande who tapped in from close range following a Joseph Kamwendo free-kick taken from the edge of the box.
With a goal down, Civil, who protested against Wanderers’ goal claiming that there was an infringement, piled pressure on the Nomads defence marshalled by Harry Nyirenda, Foster Namwera and Stanley Sanudi.
Eventually, Banda equalised for Civil after Wanderers players failed to clear a ball from the danger zone.
After the game, Wanderers Coach, Yasin Osman, faulted his team for playing a game that suited Civil’s game-plan.
“We didn’t play according to our plan. It is clear that Civil did not come here to play but frustrate us; as a result, our game was affected,” Osman said.
Civil Coach, Franco Ndawa, praised his players for withstanding the pressure of playing two good teams [including Blantyre United on Saturday].
In other games played yesterday, Moyale Barracks drew 1-1 with Azam Tigers, Mafco lost 2-0 to Dwangwa United whereas Red Lions defeated Masters Security 3-0.
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