TNM Super League leaders Mighty Wanderers were yesterday denied an opportunity to open an eight-point gap at the summit of the log table following a 1-1 draw against Moyale Barracks at Rumphi Stadium on Saturday.
The draw takes the Nomads’ tally to 33 points, six point adrift of second-placed rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets, who take on Blue Eagles at Kamuzu Stadium this afternoon.
Wanderers forward Promise Kamwendo broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute after a goalless first-half.
But substitute Jimmy Viyuyi levelled in the 70th minute to snatch a point for the hosts.
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira in a post-match interview said the draw was betteer than nothing.
He said: “It was a very difficult game. We tried our best.
“Since it’s an away game, we accept the one point.”
The spotlight now shifts to Bullets, who have two games in hand and will be hoping to cut Wanderers lead to three points as they face Eagles.
Fresh from winning the Airtel Top 8 after beating Silver Strikers, the morale in Bullets camp is noticeable.
But Bullets head coach Peter Mponda has warned his players not to dwell on that cup success.
He said: “We have already sent a message to the players that, yes, we have won the Airtel Top 8, we have celebrated, but now we have to go back and start working again.
“We have showed during our training sessions that it’s not the same way we were preparing for Airtel Top 8. Now we have raised the intensity of training because we need to show the guys that we are not satisfied. We need more from them. So far, so good.”
Bullets will be without influential captain Lloyd Aaron, who has joined a Qatari second division club.
Mponda admitted that replacing Aaron in central midfield presents a tactical challenge.
He said: “Unfortunately, we have lost our captain, who is so influential in the field and out of the field. It’s a very big miss for us. But I strongly believe that we have got players who can come in and fill that big gap.”
He added that Aaron’s absence is also an opportunity for fringe players to stake their claim.
“Now it’s also a time for the other players who are not playing to come up and help the team. Now they really need to come and show up and take us forward.”
Mponda hinted that there would be minimal changes to the starting XI that won the Top 8 final, stressing continuity and performance in training.
He said: “During the finals, a lot of players played very well and we don’t need to change too much. Not because that they played very well in the last game, but because of the way they are carrying their training session this week, they are preparing for three goals.
“They are very prepared, they are much focused. So yes, there might be some changes, but it will be just a few changes.
Bullets’ opponents, Blue Eagles, are fifth on the log and recently beat Karonga United away, a result that Mponda says is proof of their threat.
He said: “I always say numbers, they don’t lie. Number five on the log table, they’ve been playing very well, they’ve been consistent. In their last fixture, they went to Karonga, they managed to get three points against Karonga United.
“Karonga is not an easy place to get points. It’s just a statement that they are a very good team. We need to prepare very well. But they are coming to Blantyre; we are playing at home. We need these three points at all cost.”
“Every game is very important for this football club. It’s not because we are behind Wanderers. We take every game very seriously and we are not looking at what Wanderers or other teams are doing.
“We are minding our business. We know that if we want to win this league, we need to be collecting points. More especially when we are playing at home, we need all the three points at all cost.”
