When the church gongs ring on Sunday morning, the 30th of April 2023 eight TNM Super League sides will be plotting how to eliminate each other on the field of play. Although Sundays are well known to be easy and peaceful days but on the football pitch this rule will not apply. Local football enthusiastic supporters and fans will have an afternoon menu of top flight appetizing fixtures spread across four venues in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mulanje. This is how TNM Super League action has been lined up;
Bangwe All Stars v BLUE Eagles FC, Ma Eagle -Mulanje Park
Mulanje Park Stadium will witness this tussle between newly promoted Blantyre based side Bangwe All Stars [8] and Lilongwe police headquarters side Blue Eagles [13]. The Bangwe boys have drawn both of their matches and are looking solid with a blend of youth and experience. So far they have not shown efficiency in front of goal as they have only scored once. Defensively Bangwe looks not a soft target though having only conceded once in those two matches. Currently they sit eighth place on the log standings and surely would like to kill a giant and move further up the table. The fortunes for the Eagles have not been positive thus far. The Nankhaka boys are smarting from a home loss at the hands of Silver Strikers and would not wish to slip further down than the unenviable 13th position they are currently sitting on. It is not befitting of a team that finished second in the last campaign. The Eagles have the right weaponry to see off any opposition. This should be a must watch game at the arena perched at the foot of the ‘Island in the Sky’ Mulanje mountain.
Silver Strikers FC v Red Lions FC -Bingu National Stadium
If there is a team that always start with a huge promise but usually delivers below expectations then Silver Strikers [4] fits that description. The Bankers popular for the ‘umodzi ‘umodzi one touch football started their campaign with a draw at home against defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets two weeks ago. This was before they invaded police headquarters and went away with three points after holding their nerves for long periods of assault from the policemen. Sitting fourth on the standings and having an expatriate coach will be a motivating factor to utilize home advantage and pile more misery on Red Lions [16]. This time around they meet the Zomba based soldiers who have to spring back from a miserably home defeat at the hands of early league pace settersMighty Mukuru Wanderers [1]. The Zomba based soldiers are well aware of the threat posed by the bankers. However, the troops cannot continue to sink into the abyss lest they will have problems to rise up again. The battle-between sides with contrasting ambitions- at the giant BNS will be won through articulate planning and execution of game plan.
Waka Waka Tigers FC V Civil Service United Football Club-Civo -Mpira Stadium
This battle pits two sides with a long history of being mid table tenants for many years. Mighty Tigers [5] will be at home Mpira Stadium where they only have to put a right approach and block Civil Service United [15] attempts to cause any problems. The Kanjedza based side has won once drawing the other one. A win at home would move them higher up the table depending on the outcome of other matches. Any loss will be disastrous and a draw would only complicate things for the side. Nevertheless, the civil servants that they are meeting are really trying to escape from the fire. Civil are yet to win a match and only managed a single draw thus far. To them, they cannot afford to sit back and defend. They have to unleash furious attacks on the marauding Tigers if they are to return home smiling. The stakes are higher on both sides.
Kamuzu Barracks FC v Moyale Football CLUB -Civo Stadium
Now if the season is yet to witness a loud command for skirmishes, raids and ferocious attacks this is the match that resembles a real battle field. Expect gunfire, aerial bombardment and close combat as the two sides engages into a relentless battle for points. Civo Stadium will be a war zone on Sunday when brothers in arms-headquarters battalion Kamuzu Barracks [12] will have to be at their very best to inflict pain and suffering to Moyale Barracks [9]. KB are not a happy team with zero wins and one draw. They are not a team that would easily want to give away any more points. At some point last season, the Chiwoko soldiers were the best team in the league with a glittering record. They need to rediscover that form if they are to avoid being swept away further down the table. On the other hand, the Lions of Kaning’ina are mired into problems of their own. Moyale have only managed two draws and cannot wait to collect maximum points albeit on the road. This match at Civo Stadium presents just that opportunity. Their long journey down Chikangawa will be a fruitful one only if they put down the right approach and deploy fitting playing staff on the day. Fans will witness a battle of titans at Civo.
