* Mighty Wanderers’ Clement Nyondo comes 2nd with 4 goals when the Nomads thrashed Chipoka United 10-1 in the Round of 32
* With three goals is Civil Service United’s Matthew Hamzah, which he scored when they beat Chimbiya 5-0 in the same round
* As Mighty Wanderers date fellow TNM Super League side, Creck Sporting Club for the Round 16 on Sunday
By Duncan Mlanjira
In Chitipa United’s 5-0 triumph over Afanaafana in the Round of 32 match of the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 on November 7, striker Andrew Joseph went unnoticed as he scored all five goals to take the top spot of the race for the Golden Boot.
Following behind is Mighty Wanderers’ Clement Nyondo, who claimed four when the Nomads heaped their disappointment at being beaten 1-0 by Silver Strikers in the Airtel Top 8 semifinal, by thrashing Chipoka United 10-1 in the Round of 32.
Next with three goals is Civil Service United’s Matthew Hamzah, which he scored when they beat Chimbiya 5-0 in the same round; while two apiece are from five players — Gaddie Chirwa (Mighty Wanderers); Emmanuel Allan (Kamuzu Barracks); Babatunde Adepoju & Ephraim Kondowe (Nyasa Big Bullets); and Chimwemwe Chunga (Mzuzu City Hammers).
This is an assessment by Maravi Express from the results posted on Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Facebook page and yet to be verified and confirmed.
Advertisement
Revelation team so far of the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 are Lilongwe-based Panthers FC, who knocked out giants Silver Strikers in their Round of 32 — winning 4-3 in penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation time at the giants’ own home, Silver Stadium.
This was the second scalp by the second tier Chipiku Central Region Football League side in the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 as they also eliminated TNM Super league side, MAFCO in Round of 64.
The Chipiku Division side went into the game as underdogs while the Bankers made 10 changes to the side that prior won the Airtel Top 8 semifinal against Mighty Wanderers.
Coach Panthers FC, Misheck Jere told the media that they approached the game timidly taking cognizance that Silver Strikers are TNM Super League leagues and were in the final of the Airtel Top 8 — so they went into the match “with a little bit of fear but after the first half ended goalless, we just told our boys just to apply our usual play”.
The decision by coach Peter Mponda to change the starting XI was to rest the regular players as they had important games to play in defending their lead at the top of TNM Super League 2024 as well as ahead of the Airtel Top 8 final against defending champions, Nyasa Big Bullets.
Meanwhile, Mighty Wanderers are up against fellow TNM Super League side, Creck Sporting Club for the Round 16 of the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday — a cup they need to win after ending trophy-less last season.
And with the TNM Super League 2024 title almost beyond reach, as Silver Strikers lead with 57 points, three ahead of Mighty Wanderers but with a game in hand, the Nomads can only concentrate on the Castel Challenge Cup 2024.
In this competition, the Nomads would only face the stumbling block, arch rivals and defending champions, Nyasa Bullets; who will only face each other in the final.
For the Round of 16, Nyasa Big Bullets, who beat Changalume Barracks 5-0 on Wednesday, date Hilltop and if the defending champions sail through to the quarterfinals, they will to meet winners between Dedza Dynamos and MMF Marine, who are also playing their Round of 32 on Sunday at Dedza Dynamos.
If Wanderers will sail through past Creck Sporting, they will meet winners of Bangwe All Stars v FOMO FC in the quarterfinals in their quest for a trophy after been knocked out from both the FDH Bank Cup 2024 and the Airtel Top 8 2024.
Silver Strikers also failed to win a cup trophy after exiting earlier in the FDH Bank Cup 2024 at the hands of Chipiku Central Region League side, Blue Eagles and losing in the final of the Airtel Top 8 2024 against defending champions Nyasa Bullets.
After winning 1-0 in the first round of the TNM Super League 2024, a goal scored at the dot of full time, Silver Strikers would want to win again tomorrow for the second round as well as get their revenge for being denied the Airtel Top 8 2024 title.
The match between Bangwe All Stars and FOMO FC will be an interesting one as the two are fighting relegation in the TNM Super League 2024 campaign.
Following their 0-1 loss to Mighty Wanderers on Wednesday, Bangwe All Stars are still looking behind their shoulders in their fight to escape relegation as FOMO FC, who were 15th ahead of their match against 6th-placed Creck Sporting Club, won 1-0 through Hassan Hussen’s 20th minute goal.
The match between FOMO and Creck Sporting on Wednesday
The Mulanje-based side have kept alive their fight against relegation as they have moved to 14th with 25 points with five games left. They have a game in hand against Bangwe All Stars and if they collect maximum points in their remaining three assignments, they will collect 34 points.
Bangwe All Stars are 13th with 27 points, remaining with 2 games to wrap up the 2024 campaign, which if they manage to win both, they will amass maximum 33 points — thus pushing Bangwe All Stars to relegation.
While maximum for 14th-placed Karonga United (23 points) is 32, also remaining with three games. Already relegated Baka City drew 1-1 with Dedza Dynamos on Wednesday, who remain 11th with 35 points but have chances of getting into the top eight if they win their remaining two games if those ahead of them drop points.
Advertisement