Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers yesterday settled the score with teams that made the Blantyre-based giants drop points in the TNM Super League first round.
The Nomads avenged their first round loss to Azam Tigers when they beat the Kaukau boys 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium while at Mzuzu Stadium, Bullets got the better of Mzuzu University (Mzuni) FC who held the People’s Team in first round.
Tigers handed Wanderers their first defeat in the 2018 season beating them 2-0 at Mulanje Park.
But this time around the Nomads made good use of the return to their traditional home—the newly re-opened Kamuzu Stadium—to collect maximum points.
Winger Yamikani Chester scored in the 41st minute from a solo effort which saw the lanky winger dribble past his markers before beating Tigers ‘keeper Christopher Mikuwa on the near post.
Though Tigers launched an onslaught in second-half, the Nomads hanged on to the slender lead thwarting any effort to get an equaliser.
Wanderers team manager Stevie Madeira said it was a good result despite the Nomads struggling in the second half.
“We started strongly; got a goal delicious goal from Yamikani [Chester]—a beauty of a goal seen rarely in football matches
“We slowed down a little bit in the second-half because it was hot today but picked up towards the end. All in all it was a good performance,” he said.
But Tigers coach Chancy Nsema felt luck was not on his side.
“Today was not our day,” he said. “We tried our best.”
The Nomads have since moved to second position with 34 points, displacing Silver Strikers.
However, the Bankers can reclaim the position if they beat Blue Eagles this afternoon at Nankhaka ground.
At Mzuzu Stadium, Chiukepo Msowoya headed past Mzuni keeper Pilirani Mapira from a Fischer Kondowe set piece in the 80th minute to hand the leaders a 1-0 victory.
Bullets are now comfortably at the top with 41 points going into today’s match against Moyale Barracks, who have eight players suspended by Super League of Malawi (Sulom) due to indiscipline.
Bullets coach Rodgers Yasin said he was not surprised that they struggled to beat the students.
“It was a tough game. Like I said before, teams that are in relegation zone are tough to play. We drew against them in the first round and we knew this would be another tough game. Tomorrow we play Moyale in another tough encounter. Of course, they have eight players suspended but when regular players are not available, those that don’t play regularly try to prove a point,” he said.
Mzuni assistant coach Edison Kadenge Mwafulirwa rued mixed chances.
“We were supposed to win this match. It’s a painful defeat,” he said. n
