Panic for Tigers, hope for Evirom
Only one domestic football coach knows how best to celebrate in style. Every-time his Evirom FC wins, Mario Gadaga stoops to place his forehead on the ground.
Whether it is on religious grounds or mere style, Gadaga did it again after beating Azam Tigers 1-0 at the Kamuzu Stadium on Thursday afternoon. It was the rookies’ second TNM Super League win.
That result, courtesy of Zikhole Ngulube’s 86th minute penalty awarded after a foul on captain Harold Zulu, might be negligible, but to Evirom, it means salvation from relegation, hence Gadaga’s celebration
“It has been a learning curve for us. In the second round, we will come back better and well equipped. I now know what it takes to play in the Super League,” Gadaga said in post-match interview.
For the Tigers, who have finished the first round on sixth position with 22 points, this was yet another frustrating afternoon. Suddenly, memories of their trend-setting seven games without conceding are fading, giving way to panic.
First it was too many draws undermining Tigers’ bright league start. Now the defeats are two and Tigers are slipping gradually on the league ladder .
Striker Chimwemwe Nyakamera, looking less aggressive with his heavy strapped leg, did glance in an offside goal but that was about it the whole afternoon. Finishing remains the Kau Kau challenge.
It is panic times for the Kau Kau but for Evirom, things look good having jumped off the bottom to 14th place on nine points. At least for this week. Big Bullets aside, Ndirande Township fans have plan B on who to support. They did on Thursday and they were rewarded.
At Chitowe Stadium in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota, emotional Mafco came from behind to beat inconsistent Epac FC 4-2. Ishmael Thindwa moved ahead of the league top scorer on seven goals as Epac lead in the first half only to allow Mafco back into the game. Epac finished the first round on seventh place with 20 points.
