Malata returns with costly blunder
Silver Strikers captain Lucky Malata is back in action after being ruled out for two months due to hip injury.
The Flames vice-captain sustained the injury during the Be Forward Bonanza played in September that saw him also missing four Afcon qualifiers.
On Sunday, Malata was introduced in the game in the 80th minute in Silver’s TNM Super League fixture against Red Lions that ended in 1-1 draw.
He replaced defender Lameck Kachimanga while the Bankers were leading 1-0 with second-half goal from Ian Banda.
Malata’s comeback was characterised by blunders that saw the visiting team equalising in the 89th minute.
He failed to clear a low cross inside the six-yard box that Innocent Bokosi capitalised the lapse to score and deny the Bankers maximum points.
Silver coach Stan Chirwa backed his costly substitution in postmatch interview: “That was a tactical substitution. We substituted Kachimanga because he got injured and he was leaping. In football, blunders happen and that is part of the game,” said Chirwa.
One of the senior players, who opted for anonymity, blamed the technical panel for the costly substitution.
Malata confessed that his performance was below expectation.
