TN Stars lead KU FMB league despite loss
TN Stars have maintained the lead in Kasungu FMB Under-20 League despite suffering a 5-0 defeat by KK Spurs at Kasungu Police ground on Sunday.
They have spoiled their four-game unbeaten run but they are still at the summit of the 10-team league with 12 points from five games. Spurs are second on the ladder with 11 points from the same number of games while Chilangu United are third with 10 points from four outings.
But Stars coach Meke Mwase attributed the embarrassing loss to a depleted squad, saying most of his players were not available as they were observing fasting in this Islamic period of Ramadhan.
“We could not have lost the match if we had a full squad. On Sunday, we played the game with only seven players and we had to improvise one of our midfielders to be a goalkeeper,” said the former Flames defender, who steered Swaziland top-flight league side Mbabane Highlanders to second-place finish last season.
“It was a tough encounter but I did not want the Stars to just donate points to our opponents; they had to sweat for it.”
The development means Chisomo Academy, which thrashed Kasungu ADD 10-0 on Sunday, are the only side to have won all their games in the league. So far, they are fifth on the log table with nine points from three-straight wins.
Last weekend, the Academy scored through Abdul James (four goals), Titani Jere and Nelson Chida (braces each) alongside strikes by Shukuran Anussah and Fatsani Zawanda, according to the team’s coach Honest Nkhwazi.
Kasungu, which hosted the launch of the K24 million 2017 FMB Under-20 League in May, is one of the three new football districts that have been roped into the competition alongside Rumphi and Mulanje. At least 12 districts are now contesting in the annual competition. n
