Mighty Wanderers yesterday dislodged their arch-rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets from the summit of the TNM Super League table following a 2-0 victory over PremierBet Dedza Dynamos at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
It is the first time that the Nomads have gone top of the table this season.
Wanderers now have 22 points from eight matches, a point above the People’s Team, having played the same number of games.
The Nomads also stand proudly as the only team yet to taste defeat in the top-flight so far. They have only dropped two points.
Striker Promise Kamwendo set the tone for his former team’s misery when he rose high to head home a cross from Wisdom Mpinganjira in the seventh minute.
Dambuleni. | Courtesy of Silver Strikers
Kamwendo and Clement Nyondo, who used to mesh potently upfront for Dedza a couple of seasons ago, teased and taunted Dynamos as they danced to the Nomads’ tune.
There was not much to write home about for the visitors in the first half except some flashes of individual brilliance from Gift Magola, whose efforts were not complemented by Dynamos’ striking force.
The Lali Lubani Road outfit enjoyed possession as they passed the ball around on the sunlit pitch with remarkable ease.
Wanderers doubled their lead in the 56th minute through last season’s golden boot winner Isaac ‘Tcheya’ Kaliyari from a free-kick awarded after a Dynamos defender had tripped Gaddie Chirwa from behind.
The beauty of the goal lay in the execution. Kaliyati, who was named player-of-the-match, curled the ball into the far left corner, giving Dynamos goalminder Donnex Mwakasinga no chance.
Dynamos piled pressure on the Nomads towards the end when they some created good chances, but failed to make them count.
It was Dynamos new coach Alex Ngwira’s first defeat, ironically against his former team.
He attributed the loss to stage fright.
“We lost because of fear factor. It was because of the magnitude of the game. Wanderers is a big team and these guys, after seeing supporters and what have you, it was like they were a bit lost and that is why we conceded the first goal.
“Secondly, they were not bold enough to take chances.”
Dynamos remain seventh with 13 points from 10 matches.
On the other hand, Nomads coach Bob Mpinganjira hailed his players for their fighting spirit.
He said: “It was a very difficult game, Dedza played well, but the boys played according to game plan.
“We planned to score early so as to unsettle Dedza and it worked.”
In another match, Blantyre-based rookies Ekhaya FC continue to breathe down the necks of Bullets and Wanderers, having consolidated the third position following a 3-1 victory over Mzuzu City Hammers away at Rumphi Stadium.
The Cowboys took the lead through Andrew Lameck in the seventh minute which was cancelled by Samson Olatubosun nine minutes later.
Wongani Kaponya restored the visitors’ lead in the 30th minute before Clever Chikwata sealed their victory in the 47th minute.
