The Maravi Post

LILONGWE--Two classic second half goals by teenage striker Mussa Manyenje were enough to destroy league leaders Silver Strikers as the central bankers went down 3-1 to Epac FC alias Njenjete in an exciting TNM Super League match played Monday, August 20, 2012 at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.

The central bankers went into the turf as strong favourites and were on course for victory when experienced striker Rodrick Gonani struck in the 36th minute after rounding off Epac goalkeeper Jailosi Kapalamula.

This was a direct punishment for Epac, who had seconds earlier wasted a clear scoring opportunity after Silver goalkeeper Alex Makina had fumbled Ishmael Thindwa’s free kick. Makina spilled the ball into the path of Epac skipper Tsanzo Dalio but the skipper kicked the ball straight at the goalkeeper.

With referee Jones Makuwira about to blow for pep-talk, Ishmael Thindwa pulled level for Epac after heading home a corner kick by Jafali Chande.

After pep-talk, Epac came a completely transformed side and were clearly the better side in the second half. The vocal support from ganyu fans did not help matters for the bankers and it was just a matter of time before Njenjete started causing the damage.

The ganyu faithful were on their feet in the 76th minute, when Manyenje scored a beautiful goal after rounding off Silver’s aging defender Benard Namangwiyo.

The 19-year old was on the scene again five minutes to full time, beating Makina with an angled shot, which caught the goalkeeper off-guard.

After the goal, ganyu fans burst into a song… Silver yabooka, Silver yabooka, Silver yabooka.

Silver coach Thom Nkorongo accepted the defeat after the final whistle, saying his team paid dearly for wasting scoring opportunities in the first half.

“We could have buried the game in the first half but we wasted good chances. We were outplayed in the second half and our friends made use of the chances they got in this last half,” said Nkorongo.

His counterpart Abbas Makawa said he spotted weaknesses in Silver’s three-man defence and advised his boys to pile more pressure in the last half.

Despite the loss, Silver are still on top of the standings with 28 points from 13 games but have played two more games than second placed Red Lions, who can finish the first round on top if they win just two of their remaining three games.

Epac have moved from 12th to 11th position with 13 points from 12 games.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment.