Nomads, Civo on different missions

Mighty Wanderers and Civo United will be on contrasting missions when they clash this afternoon at Civo Stadium in a TNM Super League encounter.

While the Nomads are in firm contention for the flagship league championship, on the other hand, the Civil Servants are on a desperate quest to avoid relegation.

The Nomads are on sixth position with 41 points from 24 games, but a win this afternoon will see them catch-up with second-placed Silver Strikers who have 44 points from 25 games, but to their credit have a superior goal difference.

So tight and nerve-shredding is the league this season that five teams are tied on 41 points. The others are third-placed Moyale, Kamuzu Barracks (4th), Red Lions (5th) and Blue Eagles (7th).

Civo are 11th on 31 points from 25 games and a loss this afternoon could prove fatal to their survival quest.

Wanderers coach Stuart Mbolembole yesterday said the Nomads need nothing short of a win this afternoon to keep their title hopes nicely on the boil.

“Any result short of a win will end our title aspirations. So, the importance of this game, cannot be overemphasised.

“The boys know how important this match is and it is still in their hands, but it will be a tough game because Civo are also fighting to avoid relegation,” said Mbolembole who will be without his burly forward Innocent ‘Rooney’ Dzimbiri.

As of yesterday, it was also not clear as to whether the Nomads’ inspirational skipper Alfred Manyozo Jnr had fully recovered from an injury

But Mbolembole still has enough armoury in the likes of Mike ‘Malouda’ Kaziputa, Kondwani Kumwenda, Bernard Harawa, Jacob Ngwira and Cuthbert Sineta.

Civo’s coach Oscar Kaunda also predicted a tough encounter.

“It is a must win game for us because if we drop points then we’ll be in danger zone, but we are not panicking,” said Kaunda.

Captain Emmanuel Zoya, Pilira Makupe, Charles Beni Joseph ‘Dudu’ Kachule and Patrick Gunde are some of Civo’s key men.