Victor Mpinganjira scored, then picked his first 2013/14 TNM Super League Man-of-the-Match Award, but Mighty Wanderers’ Nyerere fell in love with debutant Omega Mhone at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
On this chilly afternoon, the Nomads were anxious as to how they were to start life without six key players, including regulars Joseph Kamwendo, Moses Chavula, Gerald Chimbaka and Foster Namwela who they lost to Mozambique football.
The reply came from Mhone, who never put a foot wrong, like Kamwendo, taking time off to juggle the ball and wriggle his waist down the right wing.
Mhone collected a ball from the corner flag, which Epac goalkeeper Tione Tembo thought he had shielded out of play, passed it to Mpinganjira who slotted into the deserted net on the 16th minute.
Tembo made amends in denying Timonthy Chitedze, thereafter sluggish Innocent Dzimbiri. But the Epac goalkeeper’s penchant for blunders let him down. He tripped Mhone to gift Wanderers a penalty which Mike Kaziputa converted in the 42nd minute.
The half-time whistle found Epac coach Abbas Makawa remonstrating with referee Keston Mnenula about the decision. Before second-half resumption, Makawa received marching orders after heated exchanges with the referee.
The Epac coach’s sending off was followed by Ishmael Thindwa’s headed goal barely seconds into the second half. Epac pressed and stretched the Nomads, but there were no more goals. Mpinganjira also wasted some chances to extend the lead.
Wanderers deputy coach Albert Mpinganjira described the result as a good start while Makawa had no kind words for the referee.
“My team stuck to the game plan. We played well, but it was difficult winning when we were up against 14 people,” Makawa said.
In other games, Kamuzu Barracks (KB) welcomed Mponela United with a 5-2 punishment.
Joel Chipofya netted the first hat-trick of the season with Dave Banda scoring on debut for KB.
John Banda returned from injury to be among the scorers as Blue Eagles edged Moyale Barracks 2-1 while Red Lions hammered Mafco 3-0.
