League action returns
All top 3 teams on the road
After a weeklong break, action in the TNM super league returns this weekend with action spread across the country as the battle for maximum points enters the final round.
Defending Champions Silver Strikers open their second round account with a trip to Blantyre where they face the unpredictable Mighty Tigers at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
A Tigers vs Silver fixture is always never short of drama. Last season when the two teams met at the same venue, a last minute free kick was all what Leo Mpulula’s boys needed to salvage a point in an entertaining affair.
The Central Bankers will be aiming to maintain the momentum they finished with in the first round as they strive to narrow the gap with leaders Mighty Wanderers who are five points clear of the Bankers at the top of the log table.
An injury to Silver’s sensational forward Festus Duwe seem not to have done justice to coach Peter Mgangira who was heavily relying on the diminutive forward before he got injured.
In Duwe’s absence, Mgangira has tried different combinations with Emmanuel Allan, Stain Davie, Zebron Kalima, Binwell Katinji and Charles Chipala all rotating for the first front three positions.
As for Tigers, they sit just above the drop zone in position 12 with 15 points averaging a point per game.
Coach Leo Mpulula knows that if his team is to survive relegation, then these are the kind of games they must force a result as getting a result over teams of Silver’s calibre boost the morale in camp.
Still on Saturday, Second placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets play guests to Chitipa United in a tricky fixture.
Chitipa has formed a solid defence that is not easily conceding goals as in 8 games in the first round, they only conceded once.
They face a Bullets side that is ruthless in front of goal on a good day and this fixture serves as litmus test to Chitipa’s formidable defence.
The two teams are heading into this fixture with two separate missions.
For Bullets a win would see them jump into top position at least for 24 hours as current leaders Mighty Wanderers only return to action on Sunday.
As for Chitipa, they will be targeting a top eight position, so a win over Bullets will leave them on 22 points just like 8th placed Kamuzu Barracks who are also in action on Saturday at home against Songwe.
In Saturday’s other fixture, rejuvenated Civil Service United is on the road away to Creck Sporting Club at Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji.
Civil Service United is enjoying some rich vein in form as the team currently occupies position having gone unbeaten the whole month of July.
This Saturday they face a Creck Sporting side currently struggling for form as the team which was a beauty to watch last season currently occupies 11th position just 3 points above the relegation zone.
Action continues on Sunday with league leaders Mighty Wanderers playing away to MAFCO at Champion Stadium in Mponela.
If results go Bullets’ way on Saturday, Wanderers will go into this fixture fighting to reclaim top position as they would have been dislodged 24 hours earlier by their noisy neighbours.
If results don’t go Bullets’ way, then the Lali Lubani boys will be aiming at extending their lead at the top in a season they seem geared to win the championship after almost 6 seasons.
Coach Bob Mpinganjira has assembled a squad that is hungry and determined for success.
However, that hunger and determination will be put to test when they face a MAFCO side currently on position 12 just 2 points above the drop zone.
At Kamuzu Stadium, fourth placed Ekhaya FC who are this season’s surprise package welcome a struggling Mzuzu Hammers currently on position 15 with 8 points from 15 games.
In Sunday’s other fixtures, Karonga United welcome Moyale Barracks and Blue Eagles host Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos.
So after a weeklong reflection on the first round’s performance, action in the elite league is back.
The battle for the championship seem a three horse race among current leaders Mighty Wanderers, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and defending champions.
At the bottom of the log table, Songwe Boarder, Mzuzu City Hammers and Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos all have a huge task of proving that they are indeed super league materials, otherwise it’s not looking good at all.
