Wasteful Nyasa United draw, Nchalo tumble

Nyasa United walked 20 Kamuzu Stadium fans down the memory lane by parading six former Super League household names, but unfortunately, for some of them, it was for wrong reasons—wastefulness.

Aggrey Kanyenda, Chiyembekezo Zidana, Elia Kananji, Chikondi Banda, Kuruwa Ngwira and John Phiri were in the thick of things as Nyasa drew 1-1 with rock-bottom Rock United in a Peter Mutharika Southern Region Football League (SRFL) Premier Division match that was worth watching.

While Kanyenda earned attention for excelling in defence as a sweeper, Ngwira and Phiri did so for careless shooting in front of goal on a soggy pitch.

Ngwira stepped forward to blast his penalty wide in the 75th minute before the ex-Bata Bullets star Phiri, who had replaced Banda, emulated the bad example in doing great injustice Steve Daile over-to-you square pass by shooting wide.

Rock had gone in front in the 35th minute through Isaac Phiri’s cool finish in a counter-attack before Thoko Chimbali levelled matters with a near-post curling shot amid a downpour.

First-half ended 1-1. The second-half should have separated men from boys, but it was not to be.

Rock remain bottom on 15 points from 26 games. The 15th-placed Nyasa, who have 24 points from 27 games, are unbeaten in five games.

The Wanderers legend Kanyenda earned himself credit for Nyasa’s revival saying: “I told them [our coaches] that I should be playing in defence as I have an insight into how strikers operate. Since I switched to defence, we have never lost.”

On the same Saturday, SRFL leaders Nchalo United lost 1-3 away to Mwanza Eagles who scored through Byson Lupia, Clement Chihana and Davie Jimu. Nchalo have 66 points from 30 games.