Silver conquer Lilongwe Bonanza
TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers were again in celebrations on Sunday after they beat Civo United 1-0 in the finals of the inaugural High-Four Superior Bonanza at Civo Stadium
To reach the finals, the Bankers saw off Kamuzu Barracks 4-3 through penalties while Civo booted out Epac United 1-0.
With six minutes into second-half, Silver captain Sam Gunda, who had a grand game, led by example by scoring the priceless goal from a free kick.
Gunda released a 35-metre drive to beat Civo goalkeeper Chakonda Majanga, formerly of Mponela United, who touched the ball before resting itself in the net.
As champions, Silver received K1 million (about $2 500) and a trophy.
The Bankers’ victory has cemented their supremacy over Civo. They won both Super League games last season.
Silver made a double substitution in the first-half, resting Lasford Chilima and Richard Mussa for Young Chimodzi Jnr and Chawanangwa Kaonga respectively.
Silver had two chances through Rodney Nsoko and Mussa, but Majanga denied them first-half lead.
Speaking after the game, Silver coach Stan Chirwa confessed that it was a hard-fought victory.
“Derby games are always hard games. I am impressed with the way the new players performed in these two games,” said Chirwa.
His counterpart, Oscar Kaunda, said his boys deserved to win, but lucky was not with them.
“We played better than them only that they had lucky,” he said.
In a third-place lunch-hour play-off, Kamuzu Barracks (KB) beat Epac United 3-1.
KB made several substitutions to their Saturday starting line-up. They brought in former Silver Strikers defender Bernardo Namangwiyo, Steve Unyolo, Gift Mbwawa and Kelvin Hanganda, who were on offensive right from the start.
They pressured Epac in their territory and it was not surprising to see them taking the lead in the 22nd minute through Julius Makwinja. Makwinja came again four minutes later to claim a brace.
In the 39th minute, the soldiers stretched the lead through Vincent Mphepo, who headed home a cross from Hanganda.
At half-time, they were leading 3-0.
Epac, coached by former Black Eagles coach Audral Makonyola, had a consolation goal through Azizi Hasily in the 77th minute.
The two-day bonanza was organised by four Lilongwe-based Silver Strikers, Kamuzu Barracks, Epac United and Civo United.
