National Sports

TNM title race will go down to the wire—contenders

TNM Super League championship contenders have said the chase for honours is most likely to go down to the wire.

Hot contenders Escom United, Silver Strikers, Blantyre United and Civo United have said the title race has reached a critical point and any of the four teams could win it.

Reigning champions Escom lead the table with 47 points with a game against Silver on a day yet to be fixed, to wrap up the season. Silver are second with 42 points from 25 games. Blantyre United are third also with 42 points, but have an inferior aggregate. Civo United are on fourth position with 41 points from 24 games.

Escom’s chairperson Fanuel Nkhono said: “The league has reached a very critical point where any slip could prove deadly.

“Of course, we have a single game before we wrap up the season, but we are hoping that both Silver and Civo can drop points this weekend whereas Blantyre United and Mighty Wanderers could be the dark horses.”

His Silver counterpart Dr McDonald Mafuta-Mwale, however, said they are looking forward to nothing short of a win this afternoon when they host Mighty Wanderers.

“This is the game we must win if we are to light up our chances of winning the league. It will be tough, but we are prepared for it,” Mafuta-Mwale said.

On seventh position with 38 points from 24 games, the Nomads still have an outside chance to win the title and have declared to fight every inch of the way.

The Bankers will be out on a revenge mission having lost 1-0 against Nomads in the first-round encounter.

However, one of Silver’s caretaker coaches, Thom Mkorongo, is praying that the referees should take a firm line during the game.

“Last week, we were let down by officiation. I am asking the authorities to assign referees that are competent enough to handle such tough games; otherwise, we are ready,” said Mkorongo.

The Bankers’ key man is their leading scorer Asedi Ayami who has been scoring for fun this season. He is the third leading scorer, with 13 goals. The other potential match winners for Silver are Rodrick Gonani, Jester Mlima, Peter Pindani, Frank Banda, Harvey Mkacha and Seba Mhone.

Wanderers coach Frank ‘Franco’ Ndawa said his side has not yet given up on the championship.

“During my training as a soldier, I was taught that in a war you fight until the last bullet and I believe we are still in contention. It appears a tall order, but we are still in there,” Ndawa said.

The Nomads, who will be without some key players such as Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo, Diverson Chilemba and Bongani Kaipa who are attending trials abroad, will look up to the inspiration of Nafe Msasa, Alfred Manyozo Jnr, Anthony Banda and Vic Mpinganjira for salvation.

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