Nomads end Silver’s run

 Mighty Mukuru Wanderers yesterday ended Silver Strikers’ unbeaten run with 1-0 victory in a bubbly TNM Super League encounter that saw the referee flashing four red cards at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Before the match, the Bankers had gone 11 games without a loss in the league under expatriate coach Pieter De Jongh.

But Player of the Match Francis Nkonda’s goal just after recess did the damage to the Bankers.

The midfielder rose highest to head in Emmanuel Nyirenda’s cross in the 46th minute.

The Nomads, who dominated their Lilongwe-based visitors, managed to hang on to the lead despite the Bankers’ relentless search for an equaliser.

In the absence of injured playmaker Chimwemwe Idana and midfielder Patrick Macheso, who just returned from the just-ended Cosafa Cup in South Africa, the Bankers looked out of sorts, especially in the midfield.

They failed to penetrate the Nomads’ defence and ended up being second on the ball.

It was a day to forget for the Bankers who saw three of their coaches and defender Nickson Mwase being red-carded.

First, it was assistant coach Peter Mgangira in the first half for protesting referee Mayamiko Kanjere’s decisions.

Next was head coach De Jongh for the same reasons in the second half before goalkeepers’ coach Sibusiso Padambo got his marching orders in added on time for the same reasons.

One the other hand, Mwase saw red after he received a second yellow card for a foul on Chiukepo Msowoya.

In a post-match interview De Jongh described the loss as the work of poor officiation.

“I received a red card which is personal. It’s 100 percent personal. The whole stadium saw that I did nothing wrong,” he said.

For Wanderers coach Mark Harrison, the victory is a huge boost as he was given five games to collect at least 12 points to save his job.

He drew 0-0 in the first match against rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets.

Harrison, however, downplayed the victory, saying, “It’s history. We have to move forward. We have a game against Blue Eagles on Sunday which gonna be a tough one as well.”

The Bankers’ loss is a blessing for the defending champions FCB Nyasa Bullets who lead the log table with 26 points from 13 matches.

Silver are second with 25 points but have a game in hand having played 12 games.

The Nomads, on the other hand, have displaced Ekwendeni Hammers on fourth with 22 points.

Chitipa United are third with 23 points from 13 matches