Nomads boost title hopes

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on Sunday boosted their TNM Super League title hopes with a 3-0 win over rookies Bangwe All Stars at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Following the win, the Nomads are now level on 53 points with leaders and rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets, who have a better goal  difference.However, the Nomads have played 27 games, three more than the People’s Team.

In a match monitored on Fifa TV, Wanderers started at full-throttle, passing the ball around gently and nearly broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Francisco Madinga’s free-kick hit the upright. It was a warning shot.

With Nomads’ winger Gaddie Chirwa and turning on the magic with his fancy footworks on the left flank, Bangwe’s Sunganani Geoffrey had a tough time keeping him in check.

Defender Peter Cholopi drew first blood for the Lali Lubani Road side from Madinga’s well-curled corner-kick.

The Nomads claimed the second goal through Christopher Kumwembe from yet another set-piece well delivered by Isaac Kaliyati.

To boost the energy levels, both teams made changes with the Nomads resting Kumwembe for Chiukepo Msowoya.

On the other hand, Bangwe pulled out Asumani Julius for Innocent Msowoya.

Wanderers  claimed the third goal in the first minute of added time through Wisdom Mpinganjira.

The beauty of the goal lay in the creation. He received a pass from Kamanga and then slalomed past three bemused Bangwe defenders before unleashing a shot into the net.

Then it was dancing time for the Nomads as they passed the ball around the sunlit pitch to kill time and three points were in the bag.

Nomads’ midfielder Felix Zulu was named Farmers Organisation man-of-the-match.

Ibn a post-match interview, Wanderers coach Mark Harrison said he was pleased with his team’s performance.

He said: “I am really pleased with the boys, they showed aggression when they had the ball and without the ball, it was a complete performance.

“If we were playing like this all loang, we would have won the league by now.”

On the other hand, Bangwe coach Abel Mkandawire said his charges didn’t turn up.

At Karonga Stadium, Karonga United frustrated Silver Strikers by holding them to a goalless draw which has put the spanners into the Central Bankers’ title hopes.

Silver now have 47 points from 26 games and they need to win all their four remaining games and hope that Bullets falter along the way. A tall order.