Banda on target, but out of Champs League

Flames attacking midfielder Frank Banda was on target for his Mozambican club UD Songo in a CAF Champions League match against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) giants TP Mazembe on Saturday in Songo.

Although his team won 3-0, they were still booted out of the continental club showpiece 4-3 on aggregate having lost the first leg 4-0 in Lubumbashi.

Banda, who scored the second goal, said it was painful to lose after giving out their best.

“When we scored the third goal, it gave us the confidence that we would pull level and even turn the tables. Sadly, it wasn’t to be,” he said.

Banda’s compatriot and Flames first-choice goalkeeper Charles Swini also played a full game.

Injured Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango’s South African side Bidvest Wits’ campaign also ended after going down 3-2 on penalties to Primero de Agosto of Angola in the second-leg of their first-round tie in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Primero won the first leg tie 1-0 at home but the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side won the return leg by the same margin to force the match into penalties.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Sulumba registered his first goal in the PSL when he netted the consolation for his team Polokwane City as they went down 2-1 to Maritzburg United.

Sulumba was thrown in as a second-half substitute with a minute to go as Polokwane trailed 2-0.  According to www.kickoff.com, Sulumba scored with his first touch to set up a nervy finish. Polokwane are 13th in the 16-team league with 27 points from 24 matches.

Flames captain Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava’s side Golden Arrows also lost 2-1 to second-placed Orlando Pirates. Arrows are a place above Polokwane though tied on 27 points from the same number of games. They are separated by goal difference.

Robert Ng’ambi and Gerald Phiri Jnr’s Platinum Stars anchor the table with 17 points from 23 matches. n