National Sports

Nomads’ stand out to bag Standard Bank Trophy

So it is the Nomads’ blue that stood out on Saturday as Mighty Wanderers beat Silver Strikers 2-0 to win the K20 million (about $68 000) Standard Bank Knockout Trophy.

Going into the game as underdogs, the Nomads floated like butterflies and stung like bees, and deservedly carted home the K7 million (about $24 000) ultimate prize in the end.

You could not blame them for turning the opponents’ stadium into a theatre of celebration.

The Nomads were the first team to win the tournament in 2005, but then it was not sponsored by Standard Bank and instead, it was the Bankers who first won the bank’s sponsored showcase in 2007. That was the significance of this contest that drove the fans through a bewildering gut of emotions.

It is not easy to play in one’s maiden major cup final, but Victor Mpinganjira stood up to be counted.

And to add extra spice, he netted the Nomads first goal as he celebrated his 18th birthday on an afternoon his father, Albert, looked up to him to provide the inspiration on a memorable date with destiny—boy! oh, boy!

The lad easily provided the final flourish from a rebound following a well curled free kick by Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo in the 37th minute and one could not help but salute the lad as his proud dad—the Nomads assistant coach and legend—appreciated a job well done.

And the goal could not have come at a better time than barely a week after earning his first senior national team call-up, could it?

It really didn’t matter that the Bankers were playing at home and all that jazz about the Lali Lubani Road side playing away became insignificant.

Make no mistake, Silver gave it their all.

In the end, though, it was not enough. It was never going to be. They had a chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty by Zomba-based Fifa referee Dennis Ngulube in the 33rd minute following a handball by Francis Mulimbika, but sadly, Mustafa Salimu’s spot-kick was kept out by Nomads goaltender Richard Chipuwa.

It was no surprise when, in another mesmeric move, Cuthbert Sinetre wrong-footed the hosts back-line and set up substitute Moses ‘Luba’ Chavula for the second goal in the 84th minute—it was over!

In only his first touch, the Flames stand-in captain got a pass from Sinetre that oozed class. He made a run from the centre before sliding a perfectly weighed pass into the path of Chavula whose cool dispatch went in between the legs of Silver’s goalkeeper Amadou Ali.

There were tears in both camps after the final whistle—tears of joy in the Nomads camp as they celebrated their first ever Standard Bank Knockout Cup triumph and tears of despair for Silver.

Kamwendo described the win as massive.

“We were deemed as underdogs ahead of this final and to come out victors is something else, especially at a time when we are fighting for sponsorship with our rivals, Big Bullets.

“It was not an easy game and we are happy that we have won and it is celebration time,” he said.

Silver coach Franco Ndawa said he was disappointed to lose against his former team.

“Honestly, I did not expect to lose this game,” said Ndawa.

In a coulourful event, the trophy was broght to the stadium by paratroopers who jumped from a Malawi Army donia—it was a lovely sight, absolutely eye-catching.

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