Midweek Round-Up
It’s not too late to rescue themselves, no team has been officially relegated yet! Bangwe All Stars who have been facing many hurdles this season, smiled on Thursday afternoon after pulling a remarkable win over the struggling defending Champions, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at Kamuzu Stadium.
Trevor Kajawa was appointed as the new head coach for the struggling Blantyre based side who is slumped to the bottom three of the 2024 TNM Super League table and he hasn’t taken long before stamping his authority in the team.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers needed a penalty goal to record a win in Bangwe’s previous game, it was Kajawa’s first game in charge of the team. There was some sense of positivity in the team’s performance of the team especially in the second half.
On Thursday afternoon, Bangwe All Stars ended their nine-game winless streak on the road with a 1-0 win over Kalisto Pasuwa’s side which slipped to the bottom half of the table- their first away win was in November 2023 when they beat Mafco FC in Dwangwa. James Msowoya’s 71st minute strike handed Bangwe their third win this season from 20 games played so far.
“I think this is the beginning of good things but we are playing game by game. We have started with Bullets. We told the players that we are not in a good position and I think after losing back-to-back games, the guys lost confidence,” said Kajawa.
Bangwe became the second team to beat Bullets at Kamuzu Stadium after Silver Strikers when Chinsisi Maonga scored the lone goal at the death. FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have lost 2 TNM Super League matches at Kamuzu Stadium this season, the most they have ever lost at the venue in a league campaign since 2012.
Kalisto Pasuwa whose team have lost two of their previous four league matches said his team did not do enough to get something from the game.
“If you could see, they caught us on the counter to score their goal. We didn’t do much to deserve something out of the game,” he said.
A defeat to Bangwe was a massive blow to Bullets’ title defence as they are 21 points from the top of the table, their third of the season after succumbing to another defeat against Karonga United before the FIFA International Break.
The Zimbabwean gaffer said there are still games to play and they will keep on fighting. “We still have many games to play for. We will keep on fighting,” he added.
Bangwe All Stars are second from bottom with 15 points and they are facing Baka City on Wednesday at Balaka Stadium while Bullets will take on Chitipa United in their next game before playing against CRECK Sporting Club at home.
Kamuzu Barracks recorded just their second win in their last 13 matches after claiming a 2-0 win over Chitipa United on Thursday at Nankhaka Ground in the Capital City.
After a 2-0 defeat to the same opponent in the first leg of the Airtel Top 8 Cup, KB were out to avoid another defeat and they managed to use the home-ground advantage to pip Mzuzu City Hammers to third place on the log table.
Charles Kamanga, Head Coach for the Capital City-based Soldiers said the win over Chitipa gives them the chance to compete in the TNM Super League.
“We had pressure after losing our previous two games against Chitipa United but we managed to deal with the pressure. They [Chitipa] are a good team and this win is a motivation for us as the Club.
“We have to compete not to participate in the TNM Super League. We have chances to compete if you look at the log table and I have confidence that we will do well,” he said.
Kamuzu Barracks started the game brightly and Gregory Nachipo fired them in front after heading home Samson Chiponda’s pin-point pass in the 7th minute before the provider turned out to be the scorer in the 27th minute.
Coach for Chitipa United, Christopher Nyambose said Kamuzu Barracks prepared very well for the game and complacency haunted his boys.
“We won our last two games against them and we knew that it was not going to be easy but this stuck in the boys’ head. Kamuzu Barracks prepared very well for the game,” he said.
Kamuzu Barracks have amassed 31 points from 20 games and they are 14 points behind the leaders, Silver Strikers who have played a game less while Chitipa United have missed the chance of moving out of the relegation zone as they remain slumped to the bottom three with 17 points from 20 games.
Kamuzu Barracks will travel to Silver Stadium on Sunday to take on the league leaders before facing Dedza Dynamos while Chitipa United will play FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
