Nomads white wash Santhe 5-0 to reach FDH Cup semis

 Mighty Mukuru Wanderers yesterday stormed into the FDH Bank Cup semi-finals after whitewashing Santhe Admarc 5-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Francis Mkonda, Isaac Kaliyati, Francisco Madinga, Vitumbiko Kumwenda and Vincent Nyangulu netted for the Nomads.

But it was midfielder Wisdom Mpinganjira who was outstanding and was named Man of the Match.

The Nomads will face Mafco while rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets Salima Sugar in the semi-finals.will take on Dedza Dynamos

As the Nomads are celebrating their reaching the cup’s last four, pressure is mounting for Bullets who this afternoon host Extreme FC at the same venue in the TNM Super League. The People’s Team are coming from three consecutive draws.

They were held by Mighty Wakawaka Tigers and Mafco in the TNM Super League and Extreme FC in the FDH Bank Cup quarter-finals.

The draws to Mafco and Mighty Wakawaka eventually led Bullets to drop to third with 31 points from 16 games, giving way to hot contenders Silver Strikers and second-placed Chitipa United both with 32 points.

Bullets need maximum points in this afternoon’s encounter if they are to return to the top.

But this will depend on the results from matches between Chitipa and Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar at Dedza Stadium as well Silver and Red Lions at Balaka Stadium.Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa

admitted that today’s match will be tough just like the FDH Bank Cup quarter-final.

He said: “Extreme are not a bad side. They are a good side. They played very well. They matched us toe to toe when we played in Lilongwe.

“It’s a case where we need everyone in the house. There are no longer small teams we can talk of in the league.

“Some people were asking me [why] two teams have overtaken us on the table. But I told them don’t underrate any team that comes. We just need to be positive.”

But Bullets go into the match with a number of players, including Alick Lungu, Stanley Billiat, Yamikani Fodya, Mike Mkwate, Hassan Kajoke and Ernenst Petro nursing injuries.

Pasuwa said: “Alick got a fracture, he was given six weeks. Billiat has a knee ligament injury and they have given him four weeks.

“We have Fodya, who is coming back and we are working on his fitness levels. Mkwate is still away as you know he had a fracture as well.

“Kajoke is being assessed by the medical guys. He had a deep cut and we also fear that he also has a fracture. Ernest is coming back from an injury.”

He said the injuries have been affecting his game plan.

“If you can see, these teams are playing. It’s not that they are doing much.

One area that is confusing us is injuries every time we are trying to change the team to adjust to a certain play.

“But that’s how games are,” he said.

The Zimbabwean tactician also complained of crammed fixtures which he said have made recovery difficult.

“We have been travelling a lot and that’s where we have to manage the energy levels and see how best they can play with high intensity in these games,” Pasuwa said