Will title race go down to the wire?
Be Forward Wanderers’ four-point gap at the summit of the TNM Super League log-table is dominating talk of the title race but football being a game of surprises, it suffices to say that anything can happen with just six games to wind up the season.
At this stage, the title is for Wanderers to lose having dominated for the better part of the season.
The Nomads are itching to end their 11 –year wait for the league championship. It looks so near, yet so far away for the Lali Lubani Road side as the season fast approaches the end.
It is an undeniable fact that Wanderers deserve to be on top of the table having assembled a good squad comprising both experienced and inexperienced players.
The leaders have been fired up by the signing of veteran striker Essau Kanyenda who has netted an impressive seven goals since joining the Nomads halfway into the season.
Wanderers lead with 55 points from 24 games, four above Bullets and eight better than draw masters Silver.
The Lali Lubani Road side just need five straight wins, regardless of what happens to the People’s Team and the Central Bankers, to be crowned champions.
If they win all their remaining games, the Nomads will have 73 points against Bullets’ 69 and Silver’s 65. Six games to wind up the season still means that there is plenty of football to be played and watched across the country.
At this crucial stage, all the title contenders need to have all their best arsenal. But in football, injuries, suspensions and a dip in form are inevitable especially towards the end of the season.
Wanderers Team Manager, Steve Madeira, says the remaining games will certainly be tough.
“We have to be at our best to collect maximum points because we will face some of the relegation candidates. But we are optimistic that we will collect more points to increase our chances of winning the league,” Madeira said.
Wanderers still have games against Mzuni, Tigers (today), Red Lions, Masters Security and Dwangwa United.
Any slip up for the big three at this stage would be counterproductive in their hunt for the title.
Despite a slow start to the season when they lost to Moyale Barracks and Blue Eagles in the league, Bullets started the second on a high.
They have dropped only two points in the second round following a 1-1 draw against their bitter rivals Wanderers.
Assistant Coach, Elijah Kananji, says his team has been focusing on its games only.
“We want to fight our own battles. We are not expecting any team to fight for us. We have engaged the extra gear and nobody knows what will happen at the end of the season,” Kananji says.
Bullets are remaining with tough games including Silver, Moyale Barracks and Masters Security.
Silver’s slump in form and over-reliance on Mathews Sibale, who has netted 12 goals in the league this far, is a factor that has negatively affected the Area 47 side in the second round.
The Central Bankers have lost just once and posted 12 wins and 11 draws, but Team Manager Francis Songo refuses to throw in the towel.
“It is not over yet because there some games to be played. Indeed, we are in awkward situation but anything can happen,” Songo, whose charges have been accused of lacking commitment, says.
Silver still have to play crucial games against Bullets, Mafco, Civil Sporting Club and Chitipa.
Last season, the title race was decided on the last day of the season as Kamuzu Barracks beat Dwangwa United 4-1 at Chitowe Stadium to lift their first ever Super League title.
Until that day, Bullets were also in the running for honours and the red-and-white camp lost the title with just a point.
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