Student’ Elia Kananji got the better of his master Leo Mpulula as his Azam Tigers lost 2-1 to Blantyre United in a TNM Super League match on Saturday.
The reaction from Kananji after this match at Kalulu Stadium, who for over four years learnt the coaching ropes from Mpulula at United (formerly Escom Reserves), was that of utter relief.
“It is always tough meeting Tigers under Mpulula as we play a similar brand of football and our tactics tend to match. This was by far no ordinary win. Tigers played well only that in the end, there had to be one winner. Luckily, it was we,” Kananji explained in a telephone interview.
According to reports from Nchalo, United did not take time to assert themselves on the proceedings. They went ahead in the opening 10 minutes through Tizgogere Kumwenda’s header from Sparrow Msowoya’s free kick.
After break, Dalitso Sailesi added the second with a close-range shot, reportedly making the most of a mix-up in Tigers’ defence. Msowoya was again the provider through his cross. Tigers reportedly scored through teenager midfielder Yamikani Chester.
In the last three league meetings since Mpulula’s dramatic switch to the Kau Kau, United have won twice while losing once 3-2. Tigers also won 2-1 last season, hence making Saturday’s encounter an interesting one.
The latest win extended United’s unbeaten run to four games since registering their first victory in five games of the season when beating Silver Strikers 2-1 a few weeks ago.
In other Saturday league games, Civo United beat Mighty Wanderers 3-2 in Lilongwe, Blue Eagles and Kabwafu United drew 1-1 in the Capital City while Bvumbwe Research and Epac also tied at 0-0 in Balaka.
