Gastin misses Golden Boot Award by whisker

It was a case of being so close and yet so far.

Moyale Barracks’ marksman Gastin Simkonda scored the goal that helped his side finish fifth in the TNM Super League on Saturday against Mighty Wanderers, but sadly, it was not enough to bring him level with top goalscorer—Epac’s Ishmail Thindwa.

Simkonda scored 17 goals—one goal shy of Thindwa’s tally.

“Perhaps, it was not meant to be, but I tried my best and came agonisingly close.

“I congratulate Ishmail for clinching the award and much as I would have loved to pull level, I am not bitter. It is part of the game,” said Simkonda.

Meanwhile, Mafco FC ruled the roost in the accumulation of cards in the just ended TNM Super League season.

The Salima-based side was shown seven out of the 34 red cards that were flashed ahead of the final games played at the weekend.

Mafco also got 50 out of the 545 yellow cards that were shown in the run-up to the final round of matches.

But Mafco’s coach Temwa Msuku on Sunday dismissed suggestions that this was an indication that his team was rough.

“To the contrary, I think referees just had a negative attitude towards us,” said Msuku.

Although Mafco got the highest number of cards, their players were not among the three that were shown the red card twice during the season.

According to Sulom general secretary Williams Banda, Escom United matchmaker Chimango Kaira, Moyale Barracks’ Andy Simkonda and Patrick Gunde of Civo United were shown the red twice in the season.