Civil end Nomads honeymoon

Civil Sporting Club yesterday ended Be Forward Wanderers unbeaten record with a 2-0 victory at Civo Stadium.

Civil deservedly went ahead in the 26th minute through Fletcher Bandawe after a solo run from the halfway line beating Wanderers defenders Lucky Malata, Bongani Kaipa, Ted Sumani and Harry Nyirenda to calmly pick his spot past a helpless Richard Chipuwa in goal. Raphael Phiri added the second just a minute before recess.

Bandawe’s flicked header escaped the attention of Chipuwa and an unmarked Phiri bundled the ball into the net to mark a remarkable firsthalf performance for Civil.

Wanderers came back in the second-half a changed side and went on to press Civil for the better part of the game.

But Wanderers forwards Precious Msosa and Yamikani Chester were starved of balls as midfielders Joseph Kamwendo, Mike Kaziputa and Alfred Manyozo misfired.

Jabulani Linje and Chester gave their all and managed to break their opponent’s defence of Innocent Tanganyika, Gomezgani Chirwa and Lawrence Chaziya on several occasions, but could not put the ball past Tione Tembo in goal.

Gradually, Civil Sporting Club recovered their first-half form and took the game to the Nomads. Linje could have pulled one back in the 69th minute, but he shot straight at Tembo.

“We told the players to score early so as not to let our opponents settle. They did just that and it worked as we had two goals.

In the second-half, we told the boys to defend. It was a wonderful performance and it is a great win,” said Civil coach Franco Ndawa.

Wanderers coach Yasin Osman could not hide his frustration.

“It is a disappointment, but we will recover. We started badly and we tried to come back but failed,” he said.

Wanderers, however, are still top with 19 points while Civil have moved to eight from 11 with 14 points.