Nomads suffer first Super League defeat
Mighty Be Forward Wanderers’ nine-match unbeaten run in the TNM Super League came to a heartbreaking end Sunday when they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Two second-half fabulous goals from Green Harawa and Victor Limbani condemned the Nomads to their first defeat and gave them plenty of food for thought ahead of the Blantyre derby against their age-old rivals Big Bullets this Saturday.
Following the loss, the Lali Lubani Road outfit failed to return to the summit of the table now occupied by Bullets who have 23 points from 11 games, two points ahead of the Nomads, who however, have a game in hand. Silver are third with 19 points from 11 games.
Yesterday’s loss was the third successive competitive defeat for Wanderers at home against the Bankers. Wanderers lost to Silver 1-0 in the opening league match last season before they were booted out of the Standard Bank Cup.
The Nomads thrust brightly in the opening stages after shrugging off some early lethargy, but missed a plethora of chances as attempts by Rafiq Mussa and Isaac Kaliyati were thwarted by the Bankers’ defence. Their marksman Muhamad Sulumba was also guilty of terrible wastage.
Silver then reorganised themselves towards the end of the first half, forcing the Nomads into rearguard action.
The Bankers drew first blood in the 58th minute through Harawa with a simple finish a few centimetres from the goal line after Peter Wadabwa had done the spade work—no panic, no fuss, job done.
Cometh the 76th minute, cometh the man. Victor ‘Vibre’ Limbani struck the second for Silver when he swung upfield to beat Wanderers goaltender Richard Chipuwa, sending the Bankers and ganyu(mercenary) fans into delirium while the blue side of town went was in a cathedral-hush silence.
Wanderers team manager Stevie Madeira accepted defeat and blamed the loss on missed chances.
“But we will work on our shortfalls ahead of the game against Bullets,” said Madeira.
Silver’s coach Stein Chirwa described the win as a relief following their 1-0 loss to Azam Tigers in Nchalo, Chikwawa on Saturday.
“We also had better chances compared to Wanderers, but nevertheless I am satisfied with the victory,” said Chirwa.
In other games, Red Lions had a successful outing to the North where they collected maximum points. They beat Mzuni 2-1 yesterday at Mzuzu Stadium. They took the lead in the 12th minute through KumbukaniMwambene, but Mzuni levelled the scores through Victor Gondwe in the 28th minute.
Innocent Bokosi grabbed the winner for the Reds in the 90th minute through a penalty. Lions beat Moyale by a similar margin.
Rookies Dedza Young Soccer Stars edged Kamuzu Barracks 1-0 courtesy of Dave Balaka’s strike. Additional reorting by Pledge Jali.
