Malawian striker Zicco Mkanda netted a hat-trick when Liga Muculmana thrashed Estrela Vermelha Beira 4-0 on Sunday in a Mocambola league match played in Maputo, Mozambique.
The former Escom reserves striker, Mkanda, who was dropped from the Flames after struggling, in the 4-1 loss to Zimbabwe in May, was joined on the score sheet by Telinho at home LDM Stadium.
“This being my first hat-trick this season, it feels great. I have seven goals and the leading top goalscorer is Isak Cavalho, who is Simplex’s teammate at Maxaquene, with 12 goals,” he said yesterday.
“It has been a little bit difficult since our team system was more defensive, now after seeing that we were about to let go the championship, the coach has drafted me back as a second striker.”
Muculmana top the 14-member league on 47 points from 24 games, one point ahead of second-positioned Ferroviaro de Nampula. Vermelha anchor the table on 19 points from 24 matches.
In another Mozambique league match, Flames midfielder Chimango Kayira also scored a rare goal when seventh-placed Costa do Sol beat fourth-ranked Ferroviario De Maputo 2-0 on the same day.
In South Africa, Malawian players made little impact as Esau Kanyenda was introduced in the second-half when his team was thrashed 5-1 by Bloemfontein Celtic.
In registering their first win, Celtic did not feature Limbikani Mzava whereas Gabadinho Mhango was on red-card suspension.
On Saturday, Atusaye Nyondo’s University of Pretoria lost 3-0 to SuperSport United whereas Platinum Stars fell 1-3 to Maritzburg United also on the same day.
In the First Division, South Africa, Harry Nyirenda went straight from Flames duty in Algeria to Black Leopards as they punished Maluti FC 5-0 on Saturday.
