Best of rest for super league

As per tradition, SportsXtra looks back at players it feels set alight the prolonged 2013/14 TNM Super League season, which officially ended last Tuesday, with individual exploits. We rate players based on discipline, consistency, individual brilliance and team effort. As usual we go for four-four-two system in naming the best XI.

Charles Swini (Silver Strikers)

His experience, consistency and acrobatics have provided stability to Silver defence. No wonder, he has manned the Flames goalposts in the past few games. He still can get better on organising his TNM Super League-winning defence.

Lucky Malata (Silver Strikers)

His strength lies in his calmness, his big frame, brutal force and pace that enable him to be the first on the ball before strikers. Perhaps his outstanding skills has been his leadership qualities. It is just a matter of time before he catches the plane heading to a foreign club. However, he needs to add variety to his game by playing from the back and score from set pieces as great defenders do.

Bashir Maunde (Azam Tigers)

Organising a defence that made local football history in going six league games without conceding was a remarkable task for the stout boy who is equally a good fearless tackler and packs a powerful shot going forward. It is such a pity that lack of experience had the Kau Kau winning no silverware last season.

Douglas Chirambo (Big Bullets)

He was steady, showing time and again his quality in an otherwise shambolic Bullets defence. Weighing in his defensive work with overlaps, he was arguably last season’s highest scoring defender; so good in dead-ball situations.

George Nyirenda (Big Bullets)

Talk about agility, an ability to play from the back and a little bit of flair, the Bullets dreadlocked man has it all. He just needs to keep his feet on the ground and concentrate on nothing else but football if he is to grow.

Mike Kaziputa (Mighty Wanderers)

The left-winger is not much of a crowd pleaser, but he has positional discipline. It is rare to see local wingers tracking back and doing defensive work as the ex-Blackpool and Tigers boy does. Add to his eye for the goal, then he should be knocking at the Flames’ door.

Phillip Masiye (Blue Eagles)

His late father Ganizani Masiye was a good goalkeeper, but Phillip keeps midfield discipline, breaking opposition attacks and launching the Eagles attacks using his big frame and power. He possesses balance and can play both feet. It is a close call between Phillip and Silver’s Young Chimodzi Junior.

Chimango Kayira (ex-Big Bullets)

He is a wonderful box-to-box midfield workaholic who can also burst from the deep and score once in a while. Now playing for Costa do Sol in Mozambique, Kayira was consistent throughout the season for Bullets even though his heart did not seem to be with the People’s Team.

Harvey Nkacha (Kamuzu Barracks)

Despite playing as a false striker, this lanky man is the reason Kamuzu Barracks laid their hands on their first-ever Super League silverware—the Carlsberg Cup. A clever-footed attacker with wonderful one-touch and an awareness of space, Nkacha has proved to be a classy player with an equally impeccable heading ability. He is a usual injury suspect, but last season, he kept free from the treatment table.

Green Harawa

He has spectacularly picked up the pieces of his career that was heavily compromised by a long-term injury to ignite Silver’s attack with his blistering pace, dribbling and decisive runs and an eye for goal.

Ishmael Thindwa

What else do you need in a striker? Goals of course! Mr Epac (or is he Mr Caps?) has done that consistently in the last three seasons shrugging off talk that he could be the latest edition of one-season wonders. His TNM Super League statics read 48 goals in 84 goals.

Substitutes

Lemani Nthala (Kamuzu Barracks)

Thoko Stambuli (Silver Strikers)

Chawanangwa Taonga (Silver Strikers)

Calisto Kalinda (Mafco)

Kumbukani Mwambene (Red Lions)

Gastin Simkonda (Moyale Barracks)