Reds share Nomads glory day

On a day when the past met the present at the Lali Lubani Road, Red Lions shared Mighty Wanderers’ glory on their 50th anniversary celebrations game with a 2-2 draw at a colourful Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.

Chisomo Chirwa struck in added time to wipe out the Nomads’ lead after they had appeared to be cruising to a routine win over the soldiers through Diverson Chilemba’s header and Cuthbert Sinetre’s cool finish between the sixth and 28th minutes.

Second-half saw the Nomads sit back on their laurels, only to be caught napping by Lions coach Collins Nkuna’s substitutions that tilted the game in the visitors’ favour on an elegant afternoon for the hosts.

Chikoti Chirwa reduced the arrears after 52 minutes with a long-range shot. And when Chisomo simply volleyed in after a long cross from the right, an exhausted Wanderers could not believe their eyes. The two teams shared the jubilee celebrations trophy presented by Sports Minister Enock Chakufwa Chihana.

In a curtain-raiser, Big Bullets legends beat their Mighty Wanderers counterparts 5-3. Stuart Mbolembole, Bob Mpinganjira and Sherry Msuku scored for the Nomads veterans while the Peoples Team’s scorers included John Phiri, Majeed Sanudi and Kuruwa Ngwira.

Bullets also featured Mabvuto Lungu, McDonald Yobe, Noel Kaole, Gilbert Chirwa while other Wanderers players were Edward Zuze (Dave Kayira), Aggrey Kanyenda, Billiat Mkwapatira, Gift Zakazaka and Kannock Munde.

Several companies, including Carlsberg Malawi Limited and National Bank, sponsored the game that raked in over K1 million following pledges and cheque donations that included K200 000 from former Wanderers chairperson James Chuma’s J & J Construction Limited, K50 00 from legislator Wells Gama, K100 000 from another ex-chairperson Aziz Issa and K55 000 from Thofu Investment.