Epac, BT United brace up for battle

Epac United coach Abbas Makawa, who is still basking in the glory of one of the major upsets in the TNM Super League after a 3-1 win over Silver Strikers last week, has said Blantyre United will suffer the same fate.

“We are much in form and there is unity of purpose in the squad. We are geared to maintain the momentum,” said Makawa.

Last season’s top goalscorer Ishmael Thindwa has regained his form. His partnership with Mussa Manyenje has seen them score eight goals. Mussa has hit five whereas Thindwa has scored three.

“I am happy for Ishmael. He struggled a lot at the start of the season and people were saying a lot of things, but now he is silencing his critics with each and every game,” said Makawa.

United, who will also face Mafco at Silver Stadium are without striker Tizgowele Kumwenda who is in Kenya with the Joyce Banda Foundation (JBF) team. Another striker, Muhammed Sulumba, is serving suspension. They will also be without defenders Patrick Thupi and Thoko Stambuli, who are also serving cards.

But coach Isaac Kananji still expressed optimism of getting results in Lilongwe.

“It will be hard, of course, but we are following in the footsteps of Red Lions. We, too, can collect six points as they did. The competition is less than what Lions faced,” said Kananji.

He said he is going to use wingers Sparrow Msowoya and Jimmy Chikulekule in attack and deploy Owen Kalibwanji as an attacking midfielder.

When United met Epac in Lilongwe last season, United lost 1-0, but in the rteturn game in Blantyre, the two teams drew 2-2.