CK sign Chinthenga as rookies wear brave face

Three weeks into the season, Chikwawa sit second from the bottom without a win in four outings in which they have conceded 10 goals while scoring just twice. Silver Strikers anchor the bottom due to the negative points tally of nine points now slashed to negative two points.

No team from the Southern Region Premier Division has survived beyond a season in the Super League, but Chikwawa general secretary Evans Saiti was in the confident mode when contacted on Friday.

“We have learnt in the three weeks that experience is vital in the Super League. Our boys play well but lack the composure and the killer thrust to finish off games. We have reacted by signing three players Vincent Chinthenga (free agent), John Banda and Isaac Maluwa from Evirom and Azam Tigers respectively,” Saiti explained.

The Lower Shire giants have a negative goal difference of eight, which means they are leaking in more goals and scoring few; hence, needing defensive options. But Saiti insisted that defending is not the team’s biggest challenge. Maluwa and Banda are attackers.

“We are missing many chances and we feel that if we put away such opportunities, conceding would not be a concern as we would still be able to win,” explained the Chikwawa GS.

Coached by Richard Fosiko, with Gerald Phiri senior as football director, Chikwawa have lost 2-1 to Blue Eagles, 3-0 margins to Epac and Mafco and 2-1 to Airborne Rangers who have been relatively impressive among all the newcomers.

Karonga also managed to hold Blantyre United 1-1 and lost 1-0 to Big Bullets before being humbled 4-1 by Mighty Wanderers last Sunday. Karonga beat Airborne Rangers 3-1, among others. Moyale also flattened Airborne Rangers, placed 11th with three points, 2-0.

Karonga coach Kondwani Mwalweni on Friday downplayed the fact that Northern Region newcomers have not survived the chop for about a decade. Karonga are seventh on four points.

“The way we have started gives us confidence that we can survive. It has been a good experience collecting four points from four games, including against giants such as Bullets, Blantyre United and Wanderers is no mean achievement. As long as we continue getting financial and moral support, we are here to stay,” said Mwalweni.

Karonga, Airborne and Chikwawa replaced in the Super League Mzuzu United, Mponela United and Evirom respectively. Three weeks of football might be too early to judge the rookies, but the sooner they pick the points, the better.

Blue Eagles lead on 12 points, Bullets are the only team yet to lose, let alone draw, whereas Chikwawa have suffered the most, four losses.