Swift revenge

Be Forward Wanderers yesterday responded mercilessly to their last Saturday’s Carlsberg Cup final painful loss to Masters Security by thrashing the Lilongwe-based outfit 4-0 in Fisd Challenge Cup round of 32 match at Kamuzu Stadium.

But the impressive turnout at the stadium was betrayed by poor organisation of the match which was delayed for close to an hour due to juju beliefs.

Instead of kicking off at 2:30pm, the match started at 3:25pm due to disagreements on which gate Masters should use to enter the stadium.

Though the normal entrance for the teams is the dressing-rooms gate, the two sides and organisers of the match surprisingly agreed during pre-match meeting to use the main gate.

However, when Masters arrived at 1pm they were blocked by Wanderers supporters and asked to use the dressing-rooms gate.

For close to an hour Masters refused to enter the stadium using the dressing-rooms gate.

Their team manager Muhammad Seleman argued that they were only following what was agreed.

When the match finally kicked off after Masters accepted to use the VIP gate, the Nomads were on fire scoring three quick goals within 15 minutes.

Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira made four changes to the squad that lost on Saturday.

He rested Joseph Kamwendo, Precious Sambani and Bongani Kaipa and in their place, threw in Rafiq Namwela, Mike Kaziputa and Lucky Malata, in that order.

The coach also opted for two strikers—Peter Wadabwa and Esau Kanyenda instead of one.

Masters made one change, starting striker Zeliati Nkhoma, who partnered Babatunde Adebare instead of suspended Juma Yatina.

It did not take time for Wanderers’ changes to bear fruits as Wadabwa opened the floodgates just a minute and 40 seconds into the match.

Right-back Stanley Sanudi burst on the right flank before sending a low cross which Kanyenda, calmly collected, rounded of Masters last man Eric Asika and laid it for Wadabwa to tap in past goalkeeper Bester Phiri.

Slippery Wadabwa was on target again seven minutes later with Sanudi also the provider.

This time he swiftly fired just outside the box giving no chance to Phiri.

Kaziputa made it 3-0 in the 14th minute with his left foot near the post.

A straight red-card to Richard Chande after a crude tackle on Namwela, who had to be replaced by Kamwendo, made matters worse for the Carlsberg Cup champions.

With Wanderers giving no room for a come-back, Masters captain Francis Nkonda could not make a miracle happen in the midfield like he did on Saturday. Starved of balls, marksman Babatunde was a shadow of himself upfront.

Wanderers added one more goal from Yamikani Chester in the second-half but they could have scored more if they were serious, but instead they turned the game into a training session, tormenting their opponents at will.

Masters coach Abbas Makawa conceded defeat, saying the Carlsberg Cup victory excitement might have had an effect on his players.

“We conceded three silly goals within 15 minutes. Though we were one man down, we tried to come back into the game but it didn’t work,” he said.

Wanderers coach Mpinganjira said the result was sweet revenge after the last Saturday’s disaster.