Maduka, Mponda in successive wins
South Africa-based Malawian coaches John Maduka and Peter Mponda at the weekend guided their respective teams to successive victories.
Maduka’s DStv Premiership outfit Royal AM beat Richards Bay 3-2, two weeks after a 1-2 victory over Cape Town Spurs.
On the other hand, Mponda’s second-tier Motsepe Foundation Championship side Black Leopards beat Hungry Lions 2-1, a week after a 3-2 win over Marumo Gallants.
Following the win, Royal AM have now moved out of the relegation zone and are 12th in the 16-team league with 17 points from 13 matches.
As for, Mponda, who took charge of Lidoda Dhuva when they were languishing at the bottom of the 16-team league with a point from four matches, he has now guided the team to 11th with 20 points from 15 matches.
They are six points short of leaders Orbit College.
Royal’s next game is at home against Moroka Swallows, a team Malawian forward Frank Gabadinho Mhango plays for on December 23.
Maduka was not available for comment, but Mponda said he was satisfied with his team’s progress.
He said: “Considering where we are coming from, I can’t complain much, but we can do better.
“We are now exactly half way the season and if we can engage an extra gear, we should compete for promotion. After all, we are just six points behind the leaders.”
Mponda’s team is tied on points with ninth-placed Maritzburg United and NB Lamasia, who are 10th. The three teams are separated by goal difference.
