The Maravi Post

Touchline View w/Joe Chibewa

BLANTYRE--Mighty Wanderers on Sunday stamped their superiority over archrivals Big Bullets FC (BB) when they came from behind to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory in a highly charged TNM Super League derby played before a near-capacity crowd of supporters at Kamuzu Stadium.

Bullets made a false start when they took the lead through Fundi Akidu early in the first half with a fine from a well-taken corner kick by Douglas Chirambo. The Biafra stand (where BB supporters sit) was a sea of red, the official colour of the People’s Team, who chanted and taunted their rivals after the goal.

But the never-say-die Nomads, urged on by their fans in blue colours a stand away, staged a spirited comeback in the second half and cancelled BB’s slender lead through Alfred Manyozo Jnr. just about three minutes from restart.

The goal came as a result of lack of communination between the Nomads’ goaltender Vincent Gona and defenders Chiku Kanyenda and George Nyirenda which led to the three colliding heads in midair leaving them all injured, leaving Manyozo with a simple task of heading the ball into the empty net.

Kayenda and Gona had to be taken off the pitch for treatment, but the goalkeeper did not make it back to continue playing and had to be replaced by novice reserve goalkeeper Kingsley Manda, who seemed too nervy to stand the heat.      

From then on, the tide changed. The Biafra stand fell silent as if someone had poured cold water on the supporters, while the Wanderers stand was vibrant, with the fans enjoying proceedings on the ground.  

And when it looked like the two rivals were going to share the spoils, midfield maestro Joseph Kamwendo, who has upped his game after rejoining the Nomads from a stint in South Africa, scored the winner for his side with long range shot reminiscent of the one he scored against Chad recently in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

That was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The Bullets were dead and buried and it was celebration time for the Nomads as the referee blew the final whistle which to BB fans sounded more or less like a death knell.

With the win, Wanderers have displaced Bullets from position three on the log table with 11 points, one ahead of their archrivals.

Playing on the same ground on Saturday, Escom United continued their miserable run when they yet again dropped points after going down to a 3-1 shock defeat to Blantyre United.

Blantyre United, who were the first side to hand defending champions Silver Strikers their first defeat last week since the league kicked off, made Escom look like amateurs and not the former champions they are.

Oswald Maonga scored a brace while Brown Mizeyi hit the third for the victors with Chimwemwe Nyakamera the power men’s face saver. Escom are still failing to wriggle out from the murky waters at the bottom of the table where they are still stuck with two points.

With the victory, Blantyre United have moved to 9th position with 7 points.

In Nchalo, Tigers bagged maximum points after beating Epac FC 2-1. Tigers had Maxwell Mwango and Epac’s Bright Phiri (OG) for their goals, while Ishmael Thindwa, last season’s top goal scorer, pulled one back as a consolation for Epac.      
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