Chilomoni Bawo Club handed Bangwe Chieza a 25-13 home defeat on Sunday in a friendly encounter that initiated the hosts into competitive action.
However, Chilomoni’s road to victory was much bumpier than expected; nothing could be predicted until the last moments when their star player Philemon Kossam earned four consecutive wins.
Kossam also emerged as the top scorer of the contest after amassing 11 points for the Chilomoni side while Bangwe Chieza’s Leonard Bello came second with nine points.
However, Bangwe Chieza could be forgiven for their defeat in this intriguing three-hour contest as they were, in most cases, not conversant with the conventional rules of competitive games.
The team lost four matches for failing to abide by the touch-and-go rule and for not observing the 15-seconds-per-move rule.
Moreover, unlike Chilomoni, who were champions of the annual Rolex Kapanga Bawo Trophy until last year when Chirimba snatched the title, Chieza club has just been formed and its players were not used to pressure.
But, all in all, both clubs agreed that it had been a worthwhile event that helped them practise their skills ahead of this year’s Kapanga tournament.
“We have learned something from this event, especially about the rules of the game at competitive tournaments. The defeat has given us room for improvement as we prepare for the forthcoming competitions,” said Bangwe Chieza chairperson Grey Makondetsa.
