* Matchweek 4 brings lots to cherish for as it starts with the annual celebration of Mother’s Day on Thursday, October 15
* Followed by a Lilongwe derby on Saturday and a Super Sunday arrangement in Blantyre
* The Capital City derby will have six top internationals, four from reigning champions Silver Strikers and two from 3rd-placed Civil Service United
By Duncan Mlanjira
The camaraderie that led Malawi Scorchers to annihilate Zimbabwe 9-0 on aggregate in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 qualifier, turns to foes as they return home straight to business in the NBM Women’s Premiership.
Matchweek 4 brings lots to cherish for as it starts with the annual celebration of this Mother’s Day followed by a Lilongwe derby on Saturday and a Super Sunday arrangement in Blantyre.
Highlight fixture is Saturday’s Lilongwe derby between Silver Strikers Ladies, who have five Scorchers and Civil Service United, who boast of two, Vitumbiko Mkandawire and Patricia Nyirenda.
Four from the reigning champions, Silver Ladies, who were in the Scorchers squad against Zimbabwe are Tionge Phiri, Ireen Khumalo, Chikondi Gondwe and Madyina Nguluwe while the 5th, Deborah Henry is nursing an injury.
The Bankers, who are also leading the log table, share 9 points with runners-up Nyasa Big Bullets and separated by goal difference while Civil Service Women are on 3rd place with 6 points.
The Capital City derby, to be played at Silver Stadium, will certainly be a hot encounter and most certainly to attract good patronage as the Scorchers have brought some exciting glamour to the country’s women’s football.
On Mother’s Day this afternoon, Nankhaka in Lilongwe is the venue for fans to patronise where there are two intriguing encounters — a clash between two debutants FACT Ladies and Chitoliro Heroines from 12h00 to be followed by experienced top league team, MDF Lionesses hosting another roookie side, Rumphi Sisters.
The Lionesses boast of two Scorchers, Patricia Nyirenda and deadly forward, Asimenye Simwaka, with Asimenye returning from national team uplifted having scored the Scorchers 6th goal and also assisted captain Tabitha Chawinga to make it 3-0.
The Super Sunday arrangement in Blantyre, to be hosted at Mpira Stadium, will have nine Scorchers from four teams.
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Runners-up Nyasa Big Bullets Women will host 4th-placed Ascent Soccer with 5 points while relegation zone-placed Kukoma Ntopwa Women will be up against Mighty Wanderers Queens, who are 5th with 4 points.
The Bullets Women boast of internationals, Benadetta Mkandawire and Lyna James while Ascent Soccer have four — Maggie Chavula, Talandira Chinyamvula, Letticia Chinyamula and Mayamiko Mkandawire.
Ntopwa Women have three internationals, goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo (who returns buoyed up having had a clean sheet in the two internationals), Rose Alufandika and Olivia Phikani.
The Mighty Queens boast of goalkeeper Esther Maulidi and several players who are on regular call-ups for national duty.
Meanwhile, international Vitumbiko Mkandawire, who scored four goals when Civil Women beat debutants Chitoliro Heroines 5-0 in Matchweek 3 at Mpira Stadium, leads the race for the NBM Women’s Premiership Golden Boot with 6 goals.
She is one ahead of fellow international, Leticia Chinyamula of Ascent Soccer and three ahead MDF Lionesses’ Asimenye Simwaka, who has 3 goals to her name.
Vitumbiko Mkandawire