Peter Wadabwa’s last laugh
On his first return to Silver Stadium where he was ejected and rejected, substitute Peter Wadabwa had the last laugh as his 74th minute goal for new employers, Be Forward Wanderers, floored Silver Strikers into a 2-1 defeat.
In a result that swung football opinion and rendered their pre-season’s indifferent form insignificant, the Nomads claimed 2016 TNM Super League opening week’s bragging rights.
In the larger context, the Nomads’ win piled hot coals on rivals and defending champions, Big Bullets, who huffed and puffed into a goal-less draw against Moyale Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
Silver Team Manager, Francis Songo, admitted that his charges, who had only Blessings Kameza, Wonder Jeremani, Blessings Tembo and Lucky Malata as survivors from last year’s starting XI, found Wadabwa too hot to handle.
“When he came in, Wanderers stepped up the tempo. We were forced to retreat and defend instead of attacking,” Songo told the press during a post-match interview yesterday.
In grabbing the winner, Wadabwa controlled a pass from Nigerian import, Bello Amos, before unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner to hand Wanderers their first win in two seasons against Silver at the Lilongwe stadium. Last season, Silver triumphed in all the games against the Nomads in the league.
Wanderers, who had earlier cancelled out Duncan Nyoni’s 18th minute opener for Silver through captain Francis Mlimbika eight minutes later, climbed to the top of the log table with three points.
The Nomads, who handed Amos a debut to make him probably a first Nigerian to play in Malawi’s top league, have company at the top of Mafco, Blue Eagles and Red Lions, who defeated Mzuni FC (on Saturday), Dwanga United and Epac by 1-0 margins on Sunday respectively.
Overall, it was a weekend of rare wins as hosts, Civo United and Kamuzu Barracks FC drew 2-2 on Saturday followed by yet another similar result at Kamuzu Stadium yesterday between rookies, Max Bullets and Azam Tigers.
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