Silver U-turns on fielding a youthful side

Champions-designate Silver Strikers have resolved to field their best arsenal in Sunday’s dead-rubber TNM Super League match against Mighty Wanderers at Civo Stadium.

Soon after closing in on the title on Sunday following a 1-0 beating of Kamuzu Barracks, an ecstatic Silver coach Frank ‘Franco’ Ndawa told Radio Two FM that he would field a youth side as he will be aiming for ‘just a draw’.

But on Tuesday, Silver general secretary Owen Munthali said the coach’s remarks were only out of joy, but there would be no change in their fielding.

“If it might end in a draw, then Wanderers would also put up a gallant fight. Otherwise, we do not want to send wrong signals. We have gone through a lot this season. We do not want people to start speculating again,” Munthali said.

Over the course of the season, the Bankers have been ‘victims’ of match-fixing allegations. Silver also expect its board of trustees and sponsors, the

 Reserve Bank of Malawi senior officials, to grace the match; hence the ‘serious’ approach.

“Our aim is to finish on a high with a win. We cannot afford to lose in front of our sponsors. We have to beat Wanderers,” Munthali added.

His Wanderers’ counterpart David

 Kanyenda was quoted as having told The Nation on Wednesday that the Nomads would take it tough against the Bankers.

Silver go into this match certain of a third consecutive league title as they boast a superior aggregate and are leading the standings on 58  points.

Second-placed Big Bullets, on 55 points, also wind up their season by hosting Red Lions this Sunday at the Kamuzu Stadium.

Bullets have an inferior goal aggregate to dislodge the Bankers even if the capital city giants lose to Wanderers.