Nomads face injury-hit Blantyre United

Favourites’ tag is firmly on Mighty Wanderers going into today’s TNM Super League clash against injury-hit Blantyre United at Balaka Stadium.

At stake for the Nomads, riding on a crest of confidence after stunning Silver Strikers 1-0 last Saturday, is a possible climb up the ladder from fifth to second.

Wanderers host a weakened Elia Kananji-coached side missing injured chief striker Sparrow Msowoya, regular right-winger Abraham Kamwendo and midfielder Griffin Mwenebanda, among others.

“Sparrow is out for some six weeks with a collarbone injury, Abraham bruised his knee and Griffin had a leg muscle problem. It is tough when you lose key players. Sparrow’s injury leaves us with only Muhamad Sulumba as the only out and out striker,” Kananji said last Thursday.

There will also be more midweek league action in Lilongwe where Civo United and Silver Strikers would be looking to bounce back from weekend’s losses to the Lions and Wanderers’ respectively.

The loss to Wanderers, coupled with a string of uninspiring and indifferent results, have plunged the Bankers into some mini crisis. But this could ease if the defending champions get one better over the stubborn 2013 Presidential Cup kings, Mafco at the Silver Stadium.

A resilient Mafco defensive display successfully frustrated Bullets at the Kamuzu Stadium last Saturday.

This means Silver too should brace for a similar resistance.

Mafco’s Kalista Kalinda can slice through defences as if they were mere sand; hence, Silver captain Lucky Malata and his charges have their work cut out for them.

Of course, the bigger problem for the eighth-placed Silver (13 points) is inability to convert scoring opportunities.

At the Civo Stadium, last week’s humiliation looked more of a one-off slip up for the resurgent Civo.

They host a Mzuzu side anchoring the standings on five points from five games. Civo are ninth on 11 points. Prepare for battle!