Mighty Wanderers yesterday crushed Moyale Barracks 6-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre to win the TNM Super League title with a game to spare and end an eight-year title drought.
Before yesterday’s match, the Nomads needed four points from two games to clinch the title, but they eased through after second-placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets yesterday registered a goalless draw against strugglers Mighty Tigers at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
Previous champions Silver Strikers left it late yesterday to beat hosts Mafco 1-0 at Champion Stadium in Dowa District but their effort was not enough to soil Wanderers’ title advantage.
Now, Wanderers lead the 16-team log-table with an insurmountable 68 points from 29 games, five points ahead of Bullets, whose maximum points are 66. Silver Strikers are third at 60 points and their highest tally is also 66, if they win their remaining two matches.
The latest development means the Lali Lubani Road outfit has now won the league title for the eighth time since the inaugural elite league in 1983. Bullets have the most titles, 17, followed by Silvers’ 10.
Yesterday, Wanderers put up a dominant performance that deflated Moyale’s ego right from the first whistle.
But their incessant attacks started to bear fruits in the 31st minute when Precious Kamwendo broke the deadlock. Isaac ‘Tcheya’ Kaliati made it two-nil four minutes later before Kamwendo completed his brace in the 38th minute for the first half to end 3-0.
The Nomads continued to pile more pressure on the Mzuzu-based soldiers in the second stanza, resulting in an own goal by Moyale defender Chisomo Chiwanda in the 60th minute.
Two additional goals by Blessings Singini in the 86th minute and Muhammad Sulumba at the end of regulation time completed the rout.
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira hailed his charges for putting up an excellent performance.
“I am very happy. What the boys have done is exactly what we practised during training. We have been complaining about goals but this time around, we have scored a lot of goals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wanderers president Thomson Mpinganjira has also praised the team for breaking the eight-year title jinx.
“Well done to the boys! This is a timely Christmas [gift] to the Nomads Family. It has been a long time coming,” he said.
Moyale coach Pritchard Mwansa said he was shocked with their embarrassing defeat, which has put at risk their ambitions of finishing in top-eight.
They are stuck on eighth place on inferior goal difference following a tie on 39 points with seventh-positioned Ekhaya FC. Kamuzu Barracks, Chtipa United and Creck Sporting follow with 38, 37 and 36 points, respectively, with a game to play each.
Bullets coach Peter Mponda said he was frustrated with their play against Tigers.
“This has been the story throughout the season. We are limited in our performance despite having numerical advantage with our opponents being one man down. We tried but nothing good was happening for us. All the same, the boys put up a great fight,” he said.
Silver Strikers assistant coach Mapopa Msukwa, whose team scored through Nickson Mwase just before time against Mafco, admitted that Wanderers are now the champions and they will fight for a second place finish.
In another game yesterday, Blue Eagles registered a narrow 2-1 away win against relegated Songwe United at Karonga Stadium.
