Wizards, Mafco vow to build fortresses

Tom Sangala June 11, 2017

362 2 minutes read

By Benjamin Maon and Isaac Salima

AS the TNM Super League returns to action this afternoon after yesterday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Flames and Comoros Islands at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, two sides have vowed to turn their home grounds into slaughterhouses.

Mafco and Premier Bet Wizards are both in action and have insisted on maintaining perfect home records. Wizards General Secretary, Harold Dzuwa, said his team has cultivated a winning culture at its Mulanje Park Stadium base and has no intention of disappointing its fans in the tea-growing district.

“We have never lost a game at the stadium. We promised to give our fans in the district the best in the game and they have welcomed us with open arms. So it will not be fair to let them down,” Dzuwa said.

He conceded that in the Nomads, his players are fully aware that they are facing a giant in the local game but said his team knows its way out. Dzuwa said the team is well prepared for the encounter and attributed his team’s current good run to team work and the blending of young and experienced players by head coach Trevor Kajawa.

“We know anything can happen in a game of football because Wanderers is also a good team. They are giants and have a large following. But we have a good team with the potential of beating any team,” he said.

Wizards lie second to Red Lions on the log table with both sides collecting 11 points from five games. Their points come from two draws against Silver Strikers and Red Lions, and wins over Chitipa United, Civil Sporting Club and Blue Eagles.

Wanderers Team Manager, Steve Madeira, said the team has recovered from the Top 8 Cup final loss and it is working on staking a claim to the league title which has eluded Lali Lubani Road for more than 10 years.

“We are a team that does not underrate any opponent. Wizards are doing well and we respect them for that. We will go into the game knowing that our supporters need something to smile about after the cup final loss,” Madeira said.

Wanderers are on position 12 on the table with three points after a 1-0 win over defending champions Kamuzu Barracks in the opening match at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe. Mafco FC head coach, Temwa Msuku, has also weighed in on the need to build a fortress at the team’s Chitowe Ground and fight to maintain a clean home record.

The Salima-based soldiers ended the 2016 TNM Super League without a home defeat and Msuku said with hard work, the team is capable of repeating the feat. “We always aim at winning each time we got out to play.

We would like to win something this year and we can only do so by winning all our home games. We will continue working hard while also praying to God for luck to be on our side. The good thing is that we have maintained the team we had last season even though we have some few new faces,” Msuku said.

Mafco inflicted the first defeat on Moyale with a 2-0 win at Chitowe.