KB live to fight another day

A goal in each half from Manase Chiyesa at Civo Stadium yesterday ensured that Kamuzu Barracks (KB) lives to fight another day for contention of the TNM Super League title.
Despite the victory over Epac FC, KB’s title hopes are still at the mercy of teams such as Silver Strikers, Mafco and Moyale Barracks. KB now have 47 points from 27 games.
Victory for Silver against Evirom today will mean the end of the race for KB whose maximum tally can only be 50 points if they beat Blue Eagles in their next last fixture.
Chiyesa’s first goal was work of pure skill. With 11 minutes remaining before recess, he chested down a well floated ball from Kelvin Malikebu, shielding Epac defender Stain Malata in the process and slotted the ball past an unsuspecting Onani Sengwa.
Chiyesa consolidated KB’s victory in the 88th minute. A Nkacha long range drive found an unmarked Chiyesa who was composed enough to tap the ball into the net.
KB vice-chairperson Lieutenant Jonathan Taipi said the victory was a Christmas gift to their commander, General Henry Odillo.
Epac were so rusty that even their main man Ishmael Thindwa was not in the game.
Their closest chance came from substitute Rodrick Douglas whose header in the 81st  minute could have changed the course of the game. He headed a Mussa Manyenje cross from close range from, but an agile Sekani Mhango in KB goals purried the ball over the bar, but injured his back in the process.
The game had to be delayed for some minutes to let medic attend to him, but he continued playing till the end.
“We lost the plot in the first half. We gave them room to manoeuvre. It was frustrating. It real was a bad game,” said coach Abbas Makawa in a post-match brief.
In another Super League encounter at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, struggling Big Bullets punished relegated Mponela United by three goals to one. Bullets remain on position eight with 40 points.
The poorly attended game started on a low note until Bullets defender Douglas Chirambo stunned Mponela United in the seventh minute. Henry Kabichi, who played as a striker together with Heston Munthali, came in with the second goal in the ninth minute after connecting a pass from Dalitso Sailesi. Kabichi made it a double in the 38th minute.
Mponela assistant coach MacFarlane Chimuka tightened his defence in the second half and their striker Fabio Kapinde made it 3-1 in the 66th minute.
Sailesi was named man of the match.
Mponela remained on number 13 with 23 points.
In other games, Mighty Wanderers moved to position five after a 1-0 win over Blantyre United who are on position 12. Victor Mpinganjira scored the lone goal in the first half.
Red Lions failed to move to position six after drawing 0-0 against Civo United at Zomba Community Centre Ground.