After taking a break to pave the way for the Airtel Top 8 semi-final matches, action in the FDH Bank premiership return this weekend with matches spread across the country.
We start with Saturday where second placed Silver Strikers have a date against struggling Creck Sporting Club at Civo.
Only goal difference separates the bankers with table toppers Mighty Wanderers as both teams are tied at 22 points from 11 games averaging two points per game, something that should excite gaffer Peter Mgangira who started the season on a slow note.
However, the Bankers’ greatest undoing has been their poor away from as they have only managed one win out of the 6 games on the road this far.
If the Bankers are to seriously challenge for the championship, then their priority homework should be working on the away form to start collecting points.
As for Creck, things are slowly moving from bad to worse.
While the change in the technical panel was thought would turn things around, football is doing the opposite as Ernest Mtawali’s charges occupy bottom position with just 5 points amassed from 11 games.
As they say, if you want to be the best, you must beat the best.
So for Saturday, Creck must demonstrate that they are ready to compete and beat the drop zone.
A win on Saturday will surely boost the morale in camp for a team that was once touted as Malawi’s next big football project following the massive financial investment made by owner Apostle Clifford Kawinga.
In Saturday’s other fixtures, table topping Mighty Wanderers are on the road to face 7th placed Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu stadium.
The Nomads have been in fine form away where they have amassed 12 out of the 15 points.
A win is all what coach Bob Mpinganjira will be aiming for when he faces Pritchard Mwansa’s unpredictable Moyale side.
A Moyale vs Wanderers fixture has never been short of drama as it is full of goals and exciting moments.
For Moyale, the target would be to consolidate their Top 8 status at least until the end of the first round.
The Lions of Kaning’ina currently have 16 points from 11 games.
Elsewhere at Mpira Stadium, Ekhaya FC welcome Goshen City Dedza Dynamos while third placed Blue Eagles up with MAFCO at Chitowe stadium.
Action continues on Sunday where FCB Nyasa Big Bullets welcome Chitipa United while at Zomba Stadium there is a brotherly affair as Red Lions hosts Kamuzu Barracks.
At Dedza Stadium, debutants LUARNAR Mitundu FC hosts Karonga United.
Sunday’s pick of action is at Nankhaka Stadium where struggling Civil Service United welcomes newcomers Masters FC in a mini Lilongwe derby.
Civil have gone winless in 5 matches in all competitions and heads have already started to roll at area 9 as what would be cause of the recent slump in form having started the season on a high.
With head coach Abbas Makawa away in Morocco on national team duty, assistant coach Emmanuel Zoya has been in charge of the side, and under his reign, the Civil servants are yet to collect maximum points having lost their last match 1-0 at home to Moyale Barracks.
A win on Sunday would lift the morale in camp, but that win won’t come on a silver platter as they face a side that has already demonstrated serious ambitions to challenge for at least a top four finish on its debut season.
Peter Mponda’s charges are coming from 2 back to back away draw against Moyale and Mighty Wanderers and for sure 3 points is what they will aim for on Sunday.
Attention will be on diminutive full back Damiano Kunje and forward Chikaiko Batson who both ditched Civil to join Masters at the start of the season.
Currently Masters have managed to collect 17 points from 11 games and occupy 5th place, while as for Civil, they are just a place above the drop thanks to a superior goal difference over 13th placed Goshen City Dedza Dynamos.
Any result on Sunday will have serious implications on the log table as a Civil draw or loss will see them drop to the relegation zone depending on the weekend’s other results, so too for Masters who have the potential to break into the top four if they get a positive result on Sunday.
