Babatunde scores unusual ‘hat trick’

Be Forward Wanderers striker Babatunde Adebare on Saturday scored an unusual ‘hat trick’—two goals against the Nomads’ opponents Ekwendeni Hammers and one into his own net in a bubbly TNM Super League encounter at Mzuzu Stadium.

The Nigerian was on target in the second minute to give the Nomads an early lead before doubling the score line lead in the 26th minute.

However, the striker ended up scoring an own goal in the 33rd minute in a match the visitors won 2-1.

Though all goals are credited to Babatunde the striker forfeited the match ball award for hat tricks since one of them is an own goal.

According to Laws of the Game, a player who scores an own goal is personally credited with the goal as part of the statistical abstract of the game, however, the own goal is not added to a player’s seasonal or career goal scoring total.

Wanderers now have 10 points from eight and have moved to position 11.

The Nomads coach Bob Mpinganjira thanked his charges for collecting maximum points.

He said: “It was a very difficult game. Ekwendeni is a good team and scoring two goals against them is not easy. I commend my players for the victory.”

His counterpart Etson Kadenge Mwafulirwa conceeded defeat.

“Today we were not okay in all departments. We conceded two silly goals. Anyway, it’s a lesson learnt,” he said.

“We failed to score because we were playing without proper strikers. We just improvised. All out strikers are either injured or suspended.”

Hammers are stuck at 19 points from 10 games.

At Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Nyasa Big Bullets collected maximum points after beating Mzuzu Warriors 3-0.

Striker Zicco Mkanda scored a brace in the 32rd and 36th minute while defender Precious Sambani scored the other goal in the 37th minute.

However, coach Callisto Pasuwa though happy to collect maximum points said his charges missed a lot of chances.

Mzuzu Warriors coach Gilbert Chirwa said his charges did not play according to plan.,

“I think the boys gave a little respect to Big Bullets that’s why they destroyed us 3-0. We gave them a lot of spaces to move around the ball. At half time we talked the boys but in the second half, it took us along time to adjust,” he said.

In Karonga, hosts Karonga United played out a 2-2 draw against Mafco while Kamuzu Barracks and Blue Eagles’ stalemate produced no goals at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.