Bullets outclass Wanderers
Using a TNM BlackBerry which Mighty Wanderers badly lacked on this Kamuzu Stadium Sunday afternoon steeped in pomp, Big Bullets made three decisive sponsorship calls to Carlsberg Malawi Limited.
In this TNM Super League match that might prove decisive on who gets Carlsberg sponsorship next season, Bullets did themselves a great favour in thumping Wanderers 3-0; the first time in the league since September 5 2010.
At the VIP Stand, Carlsberg senior brands manager Twikale Chirwa’s smile and Wanderers’ general secretary David Kanyenda’s long face said it all.
Sensational Gabadinho Mhango, whom Kanyenda laughed at during the week that he had never scored past the Nomads, scored. Not once, but twice, taking his personal exploits to seven league goals.
“We came here to prove ourselves on the pitch and let Wanderers do the talking,” said man of the match Gabadinho.
His coach Eddingtone Ng’onamo, who had never won in the league against the Nomads, threw the ball back to some Bullets “for them to now judge if I am a Wanderers sympathiser”. Everything that is supposed to go right in a game just did for Bullets.
First, Chimango Kayira, nicknamed BlackBerry, put the Bullets on the victory path in the 34th minute from a ball which Wanderers goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa had punched after Gabadinho had cleverly skipped Diverson Mlozi’s low cross across the goal mouth. The first-half soon ended.
During break, nobody knows what Wanderers coach Felix Fosiko told his charges in the dressing room. But it was certainly uninspiring. Nomads striker Diverson Chilemba went into hiding the whole afternoon, not even managing a shot just like disoriented substitute Gomezgani Gondwe.
Then, came the moment for Gabadinho to reply to Kanyenda. Just as Bullets fans were calling for Heston Munthali’s removal, the veteran striker initiated the second goal. He flicked the ball to Diverson Mlozi who in turn did the same to Gabadinho on the left blind side.
Gabadinho drilled the ball hard and low past Chipuwa in the 78th minute, then finished off Wanderers with his second, pouncing on yet another fumble. Chipuwa had spilled substitute Godfrey Masonda shot. Wanderers defence was then in sixes and sevens.
The eastern terraces erupted into a red dance. On the opposite end, nyerere trooped off in silence. It was a long walk back home for the Nomads who remain fifth on 35 points while Bullets lie third on 42 points, three points behind leaders Blantyre United and one behind second-placed Silver Strikers.
Sunday’s match was a litmus test for the fans who took hid of calls against climbing over the cordoned-off terraces. Before the match, Bullets had in seven league meetings since 2009 won 3-1 once 2010 against six for Wanderers. Sad way to end the year for Wanderers!
