Defending champions Silver Strikers and last season’s runners up Mighty Wanderers yesterday registered crucial victories in the TNM Super League as they returned to action after being on bye due to their players’ involvement in the Flames engagements.
Mighty Wanderers first-half goals from Clement Nyondo and Promise Kamwendo at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre helped the Nomads to move to second position, displacing Blantyr-based newcomers Ekhaya FC.
The two sides tie on nine points but the Nomads have a better goal difference.
The Nomads, who have a game in hand and play Creck Sporting Club on Sunday, have a chance to catch up with rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets, who are at the summit with 12 points.
Player of the match Nyondo netted the opener in the third minute before Kamwendo doubled the lead in the 40th minute.
Silver, on the other hand, are sixth with seven points after defeating newly-promoted Songwe Border United 4-1 at Karonga Stadium.
The Bankers still have a long way to catch up with the top three teams, but coach Peter Mgangira in a post-match interview said he was happy with the progress.
He said: “It’s a morale booster. We started on a slow pace. We are getting there. I am happy for the win. We would have done better. We created a lot of chances from the wet goal, but what we wanted here is three points. So, we’re happy for the win.
“That’s what the game of football is all about. Sometimes when you get chances, you don’t convert them into goals. What I am saying is that we have won 4-1, which is a very good margin for us. But, I would have been happier if we scored a lot of goals, because today I think this is one of the games where we created a lot of chances.”
On his part, Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira said the victory after a two-week break demonstrates the team’s consistency in the league.
He said: “I am very happy for the win, considering where we are coming from. We were on break for about two weeks, without playing a competitive game.
“So, this was the first one, and, at least we have started with a win. We also didn’t concede any goal. That’s good for us.”
While Wanderers slowed down after scoring two goals in the first half, it was a different story for Silver.
The Bankers needed just a minute to announce their title defence re-launch as Festus Duwe buried home a MacDonald Lameck throw in.
Startled by the early goal, the hosts, pulled out first choice goalkeeper Francis Mwabango for Ringstar Galima in the sixth minute.
But The Bankers doubled the lead through Duwe again in the 34th minute after a counterattack move initiated by midfielder Chimwemwe Idana.
At half-time, the visitors were comfortably leading 2-0 and they went on to add two more in the second stanza.
Idana netted the third from Precious Sambani’s cross just after recess in the 46th minute.
However, Songwe protested the goal, arguing that is was scored from an offside position.
Songwe’s Suzgo Mwakasinga was shown a red card following a second yellow card for protesting.
But the host still managed to pull one back in the 68th minute from the spot through Wongani Kamanga after a handball in the box.
However, Emmanuel Allen restored Silver’s three-goal lead in the 85th minute after tapping in from a Levison Maganizo’s assist.
