The Maravi Post

Moyale Barracks FC of Mzuzu were determined to avenge their 1-0 defeat in they suffered previous week against in a Presidential Cup final to Big Bullets FC when they lined up against the same team in the K65 million TNM Super League encounter at Mzuzu Stadium on Saturday. It wasn’t to be as the People’s Team once against prevailed over the soldiers with the same goal margin to bag full points.

The Moyale supporters and some officials could not stomach the loss and they vented their anger on the officiating personnel, referee Mabvuto Godoya and his assistant Fifa referee Victor Nkhata who were at the receiving end of the Moyale supporters’ ire and got the flak which seriously left them bruised and battered after the final whistle.

The two referees were accused of biased officiation after denying the Kaning’ina soldiers what they thought were two clean goals.

Misheck Zgambo hit the back of the net 10 minute after kick-off but the Moyale supporters, who welcomed the would-be goal with a thunderous din, were shocked to see Nkhata’s flag up disallowing the goal, claiming the scorer was involved in physical body contact with goalkeeper Vincent Gona who lay on his back injured.

On the 28th minute Bullets struck had the ball behind the net after a classic exchange of passes saw Douglas Chirambo sending a high searching ball which Diverson Mlozi coverted after rounding off the Moyale defence of Lameck Thindwa , Ntopijo Njewa and Anthony Manda.

Moyale thought they had equalised on the 79th minute after Sandress Munthali beat Gona in a goalmouth melee, but again Nkhata’s flag was up for an infringement. This attracted a heated protest from the Moyale bench and their supporters in the terraces.

And after Godoya blew the final whistle to signal the end of the match and as Sulom official Christopher Limbani was about to crown Bullets defender George Nyirenda as man-of-the-match, hell broke loose as Moyale supporters descended on the referee and his assistant, raining blows on them and before security personnel could come to their rescue, they were bleeding profusely.

Meanwhile, it is reported that a young girl aged about six was also seriously injured allegedly after an irate Moyale fan threw her to the ground in reaction to the loss.

It wasn’t immediately known what action FAM or Super League of Malawi (Sulom) would take after the fracas, but both bodies warned at the beginning of the elite league that violent acts would not be tolerated and that perpetrators would face the jazz.

“We blame all this on the Referee’s Association of Malawi for assigning officials who are BB fans and not competent refs for their job,” said Moyale assistant coach Themba Nthontholo in a post-match interview.

But Bullets trainer Edington Ng’onamo said he saw nothing wrong with the officiation only that Moyale, who are languishing at the bottom of the league with 10 points, could not stomach a second defeat within a week to his side.

The following day, the People’s Team took on league tail-enders Kabwafu and beat them 2-1 at the same venue to complete a successful outing to the Northern Region after bagging 6 points.

Henry Kabichi and veteran Heston Munthali scored for Bullets, while Christopher Njikho pulled one back for Kabwafu in the dying minutes to make his team walk out with a bit of respect for losing honourably.

At Kalulu Stadium in the sweltering heat of the Lower Shire district of Chikhwawa, Escom United, who recently fired the entire coaching crew for posting a string of losses, finally managed to register their second win of the season since the league kicked off thanks to Kelvin Hang’anda brace against Mafco FC of Salima. Oswald Mkagula scored Mafco’s face saver.

Meanwhile, 98 games have been played with 264 goals scored. Reigning champions Silver Strikers, Mighty Wanderers, Azam Tigers, Blantyre United, Civo United, Blue Eagles and Bvumbwe Research have all completed their first round assignments and Silver lead the pack at the top with 31 points from 18 games. Blue Eagles have halted Red Lions unbeaten run after hammering them 0-3 in Balaka but the Zomba-based soldiers remain the only team with a perfect away record having won all five away games.

Silver Strikers have scored the most goals (35) and have been victorious in all eight games played at home. Big Bullets have as well used home ground advantage after managing to collect 12 points from a possible 12 points.

Surprisingly, last season’s runners up (Escom United) are yet to win at home and remain rooted at the bottom after playing 13 games.

Rookies Bvumbwe Research and Kabwafu are still searching for their first away wins. Bvumbwe have conceded the most goals (25). Eighteen red cards have been shown in the elite league this far. Mafco F.C has received the most red cards (3) and is trailed by EPAC F.C, Escom United, Kamuzu Barracks Moyale and Red Lions. Zasher Nong’oneza of Mafco F.C has received two red cards this far.

Vincent Chinthenga of Bvumbwe is currently the top goal scorer. He and Tony Chitsulo of Silver Strikers are currently the only players to have scored hat tricks.

The top scorers chart is as follows:- Chinthenga of Bvumbwe 10 goals, Rodrick Gonani of Silver Strikers, Boniface Kaulesi of Red Lions 8 goals each, Divason Chilemba of Mighty Wanderers 7 goals, Oswald Mkagula of Mafco F.C and Muhammad Sulumba of Blantyre United 6 goals each, Charles Ngosi of Blue Eagles, Joseph Kamwendo of Mighty Wanderers, Mussah Manyenje of EPAC F.C, Tony Chitsulo of Silver Strikers and Welani Nyirenda of Civo United 5 goals each, Ndaona Daisi of Silver Strikers, Innocent Bokosi of Blue Eagles, Dalitso Sailesi, Brown Mizeyi both Blantyre United, Moses Nankumba of Azam Tigers and Ishmael Thindwa of EPAC F.C, Heston Munthali of Big Bullets and Zasher Nong’oneza of Mafco 4 goals each.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction without acknowledgment prohibited.

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