Mafco grudgingly face Epac
Two weeks after losing three key players killed in a road accident and three more injured, Mafco host Epac FC grudgingly in a TNM Super League first-round clash today Thursday.
All eyes will be on the Chitowe Stadium hosts on how they will cope psychologically and physically minus departed Sadani Mangwele, Chifuniro Phiri and Gift Mphonde.
Silas Phiri, Gift Soko and Jimmy Mzunga survived the Salima accident, but are out with injuries, leaving Mafco coach Stereo Gondwe fuming at the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) yesterday.
“We would have loved to have more days off to re-organise ourselves. Losing six key players is tough, but the Super League of Malawi insisted that we play. The fixtures are not on. Even sponsors cannot cope with these inconsistencies,” Gondwe complained.
Goalkeeper Frank Kasiyano and Oscar Nkagula have to stand up and be counted for the relegation-threatened Mafco. They are placed 12th with 10 points from 11 games having won just twice this season.
Epac step on the pitch in confident mode having beaten Civo United thoroughly 3-0 on Sunday with Jaffalie Chande and Musa Manyenje as the tormentors-in-chief.
Epac are seventh on the log table with 20 points and wind up their first round assignments today.
Mafco may wish to capitalise on the absence of Epac coach Abbas Makawa as he is coaching Tessam team.
“But my absence should be no setback. My assistant Innocent Lungu is capable of doing the job. After all, we have an injury free squad and I left a particular training programme for this match,” Makawa said yesterday
In another Super League match today, Evirom FC lock horns with Azam Tigers.
