Moyale stumble, Nomads get relief

TNM Super League leaders Moyale Barracks’ uncharacteristic 5-1 loss to fellow soldiers Airborne Rangers on Sunday denied the Kaning’ina Lions an opportunity to break clear of second-placed Big Bullets.

Moyale remain top through a superior aggregate while tying on 44 points from 22 games, one more game than the Bullets who were not in action over the weekend.

The loss of the Nicholas Mhango-coached side should be good news to Bullets and third-placed Blue Eagles, who have 40 points in 20 games.

However, Mhango told Capital Radio last week that he was targeting three wins and the title chase “would be over”.

In registering their most impressive win of the season, Asedi Ayami scored a treble to join this season’s exclusive club of hat-trick scorers that include leading scorer Deus Nkutu who claimed Moyale’s consolation at the Chitowe Stadium to take his tally to 15.

Leonard Mgomezulu and Sam Banda were the other scorers for Rangers who now sit relatively safely on position nine with 23 points in the bag amassed from 23 matches.

The Rangers are the most impressive of the three rookies probably followed by Chikwawa United who beat fellow newcomers Karonga United 2-1 also on Sunday.

Coach Thom Mkorongo’s third win, registered through Upile Zolongoti and Ranken Mwale, of the season gives a flicker of hope to Chikwawa who are third from the bottom on 16 points from 22 games.

United, whose consolation came off the boot of James Mwafulirwa, dropped to bottom on 13 points from 22 matches.

Another relegation-threatened Kamuzu Barracks’ up-and-down season continued with a 1-0 loss to Mafco through Kalista Kalinda’s sole goal that has the Salima soldiers climbing to fourth on 34 points from 22 games, overtaking Red Lions descended to sixth on 33 points.

There was some relief for Mighty Wanderers who registered a rare second-round 1-0 win, thanks to Mike Kaziputa’s effort that handed Civo United an unusual loss at Balaka Stadium.

The Nomads, whose coach Gerald Phiri resigned last week, are 10th on 24 points from 21 games.